PREVALENCE OF AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED SUICIDE RISK AMONG CHRONIC NON-CANCER PAIN PATIENTS IN ZAGAZIG UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

Background: chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) patients are more likely to experience suicidal ideation and behaviors compared to the general population. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Egypt discussing the prevalence and risk factors of suicide among CNCP patients.Objectives of this study aimed to identify the most important general and pain-related risk factors of suicide in patients with chronic non-cancer pain at Zagagzig University Hospitals. Methods: a total of 179 patients with chronic non-cancer pain were recruited from Outpatient clinics, Zagazig University hospitals, Sharkia. A simple questionnaire was structured for all participants to collect data onsocio-demographic data and pain-related (intensity, duration, interference, sleep problems). Psychometric assessment was done which included; the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and Columbia Scale for the Rating of Suicide Severity(C-SSRS).Results: approximately half of the patients (48.6%) reported lifetime suicidal ideation and only 1.1% reported life time suicide attempts, Suicidal ideation occurred after onset of pain in 26.3% of the participants. Several risk factors for SI in chronic pain were identified, including younger age, previous substance abuse, past history of psychiatric illness and sleep-onset insomnia.
Conclusion: results of this study are consistent with the prevailing literature on pain and
suicide demonstrating a high prevalence of suicidal ideation in the chronic pain population. Novel predictive variables were also identified that will provide the basis for developing a risk stratification model that can be further tested prospectively in chronic pain patients

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Zagazig University Medical Journal
Volume 25, Issue 6
November 2019
Pages 950-959

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