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Deployment status may indicate suicide attempt risk

Deployment status may indicate risk for suicide attempt, according to findings in JAMA Psychiatry.

“In the Army, findings based on data from 2004 to 2009 indicate that women and soldiers who are early in their career, younger, and those with a recent mental health diagnosis are at increased risk,” Robert J. Ursano, MD, of the University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues wrote. “Those findings also highlighted the significant role of deployment status, with [never deployed] soldiers at highest risk. However, little is known about how risk factors for suicide attempts may vary by deployment status, which can inform the development of interventions,”

To assess suicide attempt risk factors, methods and timing among soldiers currently, previously and never deployed, researchers analyzed individual-level person-month records from 2004 to 2009 for soldiers enlisted in the Army.

There were 9,650 soldiers who attempted suicide. Of these, 86.3% were male, 68.4% were aged younger than 30 years, 59.8% were non-Hispanic white, 76.5% had high school educations, and 54.7% were currently married.

Enlisted soldiers who had never been deployed (40.4% of the cohort) accounted for 61.1% of enlisted soldiers who attempted suicide.

Suicide attempt risk was highest in the second month of service among those never deployed (103 per 100,000 person-months).

Among soldiers on their first deployment, risk was highest in the sixth month of deployment (25 per 100,000 person-months).

Among soldiers previously deployed, risk for suicide attempt was highest five months after their return (40 per 100,000 person-months).

Currently (OR = 4; 95% CI, 2.9-5.6) and previously deployed (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8-3.9) soldiers were more likely to attempt suicide with a firearm compared with those never deployed.

Across all deployment statuses, suicide attempt was more common among female soldiers, those in their first two years of service and those who received a mental health diagnosis within the past month.

Among soldiers with one previous deployment, risk for suicide attempt was higher among those who screened positive for depression (OR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) or PTSD (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 2.1-2.8) following deployment, particularly between 4 to 6 months after deployment.

“Deployment context is important in identifying [suicide attempt] risk among Army-enlisted soldiers. A life/career history perspective can assist in identifying high-risk segments of a population based on factors such as timing, environmental context, and individual characteristics,” the researchers wrote. “Our findings, while most relevant to active-duty U.S. Army soldiers, highlight considerations that may inform the study of suicide risk in other contexts such as during the transition from military to civilian life.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Ursano reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.