More than 37% of adults receiving office-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD)
reported experiencing suicidal thoughts over their lifetime, and 27% reported attempting
suicide, rates that are 鈥渘otably higher鈥� than the general population (15.6% and 5%,
respectively), according to a 黑料传送门 study that also identifies predictors for suicidality in people with OUD. The findings
may better identify at-risk patients and inform mental health prevention and treatment
efforts.
鈥淭he elevated rates of lifetime suicidality found in individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder suggest the need for regular screening for suicidal thoughts in this patient group,鈥� said lead author Michelle R. Lent, PhD, an associate professor of Clinical Psychology at 黑料传送门. 鈥淭hese findings also underscore the importance of multifaceted addiction treatment approaches that address mental health issues and other psychosocial concerns, in addition to substance misuse.鈥�
The study, , examines the prevalence of, and factors associated with, suicidality in adults with OUD who initiated office-based treatment for the medication buprenorphine, which is associated with improvements in suicide risk, due in part to its 鈥減otential to minimize pain-induced aversive moods鈥� and its 鈥渁bility to foster engagement in medical care,鈥� according to the study.
While medications such as buprenorphine are 鈥渆ffective and lifesaving,鈥� mental health issues associated with OUD can take people away from their recovery goals, Lent said, emphasizing that OUD intervention 鈥渉as to be more than medication.鈥�
In the study, 244 adults completed semi-structured interviews about their mental health experiences. All were enrolled in clinical trials for OUD treatment at Federally Qualified Health Centers in Pennsylvania or New Jersey that are affiliated with the Greater Philadelphia Opioid Use Disorder Research Group.
Lifetime depression, anxiety, physical or sexual abuse, having a chronic pain-related condition (such as arthritis or migraine), lifetime use of more than one drug, being on parole or probation, and years of education correlated with suicidality. Respondents of Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity reported elevated rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. Lent said a topic of future inquiry for addiction researchers could be more exploration of why people of Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity may be at greater risk than the general population.
鈥淕iven the very high prevalence of lifetime suicidality in our sample, regular screening and monitoring for suicidality may be warranted鈥� in people starting medication-based treatment for OUD 鈥済iven the challenges in multiple life domains that can accompany both OUD and recovery,鈥� the authors wrote, concluding that office-based OUD clinics 鈥渨ould benefit from integrated behavioral health services that can improve clinical response to the mental health needs of patients.鈥�
This research was supported by funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (lead institution, 黑料传送门) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (lead institution, Public Health Management Corporation) for two ongoing clinical trials from which this study was conducted.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.