Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior Depend on Age for Veterans in the Pacific Islands

• Published in: Suicide & life-threatening behavior Vol. 48; no. 6; p. 642
• Main Authors: Pitts, Barbara L, Whealin, Julia M, Kato, Jackson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Borderline Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Borderline Personality Disorder - epidemiology; Borderline Personality Disorder - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pacific Islands - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology; Veterans - psychology; Veterans Health - statistics & numerical data; Pacific Islands
• ISSN: 1943-278X
• DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12376

We examined whether risk factors for suicidal behavior depend on age among military veterans in the Pacific Islands (N = 29,595). For veterans under 54 years old, having a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, a drug use disorder, and having a service-related disability predicted suicidal behavior. For veterans 54 years old or older, having a mood disorder predicted suicidal behavior. Having a history of suicidal behavior and a high number of VA health care visits were associated with suicidal behavior for both age groups. Our findings suggest that the predictive value of certain risk factors in veterans in the Pacific Islands may depend on age.