Open Access
Suicidal attempts among patients with substance use disorders who present with suicidal ideation
(Elsevier, 2019) López-Goñi, José Javier; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Haro Escribano, Begoña; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background and aims: Patients with addictions have a great risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Suicidal behaviour is a continuum that begins with ideation and may continue with planning, attempts and suicide completion. Investigating the speciﬁc risk characteristics for suicidal attempts in patients with addiction pro- blems who present with suicidal ideation is crucial for developing prevention strategies. The main aims of this study were to determine the prevalence rate of suicide attempts among patients with lifetime suicidal ideation receiving treatment for addiction, and o explore the diﬀerential characteristics for suicide ideators with and without suicide attempts. Methods: A sample of 149 patients with suicidal ideation (110 male and 39 female) who sought treatment for addiction in a Spanish clinical centre was assessed. Measurements: Information concerning socio-demographic characteristics, addiction severity, and psycho- pathological symptoms was obtained. Results: In total, 39.6% of the patients had attempted suicide (95% Conﬁdence Interval: 32.1%–47.6%). Although all patients with suicidal behaviours presented a high severity in their addiction, patients with both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts showed a more severe addiction proﬁle and more maladjustment to ev- eryday life than patients with only suicidal ideation. Speciﬁcally, three psychopathological variables were re- lated to suicide attempts: worse psychiatric state, previous hospitalization for psychological problems, and history of delirium. Conclusions: According to the results, a systematic screening of suicidal risk in patients seeking treatment for addiction problems is recommended. Addiction treatment centres should develop treatment strategies to prevent suicidal ideators from attempting suicide, mainly in those cases with a worse lifetime psychiatric condition.
Open Access
Suicidal behaviours in people seeking treatment for substance use disorder
(Elsevier, 2025-03-13) Leza González, Leire; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Sánchez Torres, Ana María; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Little is known about the specific characteristics of suicidal behaviour in people receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). The aim of this study was to describe the number and types of suicide attempts and the methods used by 215 patients with SUD, according to sex. A face to face interview (Columbia Scale Severity Rate) was conducted. Lifetime suicidal ideation was reported by 48.8 % (n = 105) of the patients, and lifetime suicide attempts by 28.4 % (n = 61). Forty-five patients reported actual suicide attempts (20.9 %), and overdose was the most common method used (52.5 %; n = 32). Women had more aborted attempts than men did. Most of the participants who attempted suicide made only one attempt (n = 34; 55.7 %). The projection of these figures is alarming. These results justify the need to integrate suicide prevention interventions into addiction treatment programmes.
Open Access
Suicidal ideation and attempts among patients with lifetime physical and/or sexual abuse in treatment for substance use disorders
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Haro Escribano, Begoña; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: Several studies indicate that lifetime abuse is a relevant risk factor for suicidal ideation and/or attempts. However, little is known about this phenomenon in patients seeking treatment for substance use disorder. The prevalence rate of suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts was explored among lifetime physically and/or sexually abused patients receiving treatment for drug addiction. The differential characteristics between these patients and those without suicidal behaviours were studied. Method: Three hundred and seventy-five patients were assessed. Socio-demographic characteristics, addiction severity, lifetime abuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, and psychopathological symptoms were explored. Results: Eighty-two patients (21.9%) presented with a history of lifetime abuse and were included in the study (37 men and 45 women). Sixty-two per cent of them presented with lifetime suicidal ideation (12.2% in the last month), and 30.5% with suicide attempts (1.2% in the last month). Patients with suicidal ideation or attempts showed a more severe addiction profile (assessed by the EuropASI) and more psychopathological symptoms (assessed by the SCL-90-R). Conclusion: This study highlights the relationship between previous traumatic experiences and suicidal behaviours. According to these results, systematic screening of suicidal risk in patients seeking treatment in addiction centres with histories of abuse is recommended.
Open Access
Violent behaviours in drug addiction: differential profiles of drug-addicted patients with and without violence problems
(SAGE Publications, 2012) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This study explored the prevalence of violent behaviours in patients who are addicted to drugs. A sample of 252 addicted patients (203 male and 49 female) who sought outpatient treatment was assessed. Information on violent behaviours, socio-demographic factors, consumption factors (assessed by the EuropAsi), psychopathological factors (assessed by SCL-90-R) and personality variables (assessed by MCMI-II) was collected. Drug-addicted patients who were associated with violent behaviours were compared on all variables to patients who were not associated with violent behaviours. The rate of drug-addicted patients with violent behaviours in this sample was 39.68% (n=100). There were significant differences between the numbers of patients who did and did not demonstrate violence on some variables. Patients with violence problems were younger than those without violence problems and were more likely to report having been a victim of abuse. Moreover, they were significantly more likely to have experienced an overdose and showed a significantly higher score on several EuropAsi, SCL-90-R and MCMI-II variables. According to these results, patients with violence control problems present with both a more severe addiction and several comorbid problems. The implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
Open Access
Gender differences in patients with substance use disorder and physical/sexual abuse: a preliminary study
(Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid (COPM), 2023) Haro Escribano, Begoña; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; López-Goñi, José Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objetivo: Explorar las diferencias de género en distintas variables (sociodemográficas, gravedad del consumo, sintomatología psicopatológica, inadaptación a la vida cotidiana, características del trauma y sintomatología de estrés postraumático) en pacientes que acuden a tratamiento por trastorno por consumo de sustancias (TCS) y han sufrido abuso físico y/o sexual. Método: La muestra estuvo compuesta por 26 mujeres y 31 hombres que habían sufrido abuso físico y/o sexual y buscaban tratamiento para TCS. Resultados: Las mujeres habían sido víctimas de abuso sexual en un porcentaje significativamente mayor que los hombres. Además presentaban una frecuencia significativamente mayor de revictimización a otro evento traumático y una presencia significativamente mayor de síntomas de evitación que los hombres. Conclusiones: El estudio confirma la existencia de un perfil más grave en las mujeres que en los hombres con TCS que han sufrido abuso físico y/o sexual a lo largo de la vida. En consecuencia, se debe promover la atención informada sobre el trauma con perspectiva de género en los programas de tratamiento del TCS. Dada la naturaleza preliminar de este estudio, se necesita más investigación en este campo.