Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults: differences in risk factors and their implications

Abstract

Many studies have investigated risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt; however, most have failed to show differences in risk factors between suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population. This study was designed to identify differences in risk factors between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among HIV-infected adults in Seoul. A face-to-face survey of 457 HIV-infected adults was conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2013. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Among 422 participants, 44% had suicidal ideation, and 11% had suicide attempts. The independent risk factors for suicidal ideation were young and middle age, living with someone, history of AIDS-defining opportunistic disease, history of treatment for depression, lower social support, and psychological status. Beneficiaries of National Medical Aid, economic barriers to treatment, history of treatment for depression, and lower psychological status were independently associated with suicide attempts. Patients with HIV in Korea were treated without cost in some centers. Thus, experiencing an economic barrier to treatment might be due in part to ignorance of HIV care policies. Our findings indicate that suicide attempts are associated with socioeconomic factors and information inequality regarding medical care. In conclusion, suicidal ideation closely associated with the psychosocial factors, whereas suicide attempt demonstrates a stronger association with socioeconomic factors. Suicide prevention measures should be implemented to provide information to help HIV-infected patients.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt among People Living with HIV/AIDS at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is almost similar to the study done in South Korea, 11% [18]. However, it is higher than community-based studies conducted in Addis Ababa, 0.9% [13], and in Butajira (southern Ethiopia), 3.2% [26].…”

“…The prevalence of suicidal ideation at Zewditu Memorial Hospital was lower than that in a study conducted in Nigeria, 34.7% [16], UK (southeast London), 31% [17], South Korea, 44% [18], and Texas, 59% [19]. These differences could be attributed to the variation in culture.…”

Subsite-specific association of DEAD box RNA helicase DDX60 with the development and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…Virus infections by human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, and Epstein-Barr virus have been associated with an increased risk of OSCC [25, 26]. DDX60 is a type I interferon-inducible gene in response to viral infections [12].…”

Suicidal ideation and behaviour among persons seeking HIV testing in peri-urban areas of Cape Town, South Africa: a lost opportunity for suicide prevention

“…A national registry case control study in Denmark of men who died of suicide (N=9,900) found that suicide risk was associated with comorbid psychiatric illness, recent HIV+ diagnosis, and more intensive and frequent hospital care (Jia, Mehlum & Qin, 2012). A study in Seoul (N=457) found that independent risk factors for SI among HIV+ adults were: young and middle age, living with someone, history of AIDS-defining opportunistic disease, history of treatment for depression, lower social support, and lower psychological status (Kang et al, 2015). Kang et al (2015) found that suicide attempts among PLWHA were independently associated with being a beneficiary of National Medical Aid, economic barriers to treatment, history of treatment for depression, and lower psychological status.…”