Abstract
Prevalence and predictors of suicidality among adults initiating office-based buprenorphine
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Individuals who have substance use disorders may have an elevated risk of suicidality. The current study sought to examine the prevalence of, and identify factors associated with, suicidality in adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) initiating office-based buprenorphine treatment. Individuals were eligible to participate if they had moderate-to-severe OUD and had initiated office-based buprenorphine treatment in the past month. Participants (n=244) completed a semi-structured interview using the Addiction Severity Index—Lite, a measure of lifetime and current multidimensional psychosocial functioning. The sample was primarily male (67.8%), over one third (38.5%) White, and 43.2 years of age on average (SD=11.2). At baseline, 37.7% of participants reported significant thoughts of suicide over their lifetime and 5.7% within the past 30 days. Additionally, 27.4% reported suicidal gestures or attempts over their lifetime and 2.0% within the past 30 days. A series of logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of lifetime suicidal thoughts and suicidal gestures and attempts. A history of physical abuse (Exp[B]=4.48, p<.001) and Latinx ethnicity (Exp[B]=2.83, p<.01) were associated with an increased risk of lifetime history of suicidal thoughts. A history of sexual abuse (Exp[B]=2.59, p<.05), Latinx ethnicity (Exp[B]=4.52, p<.001), and lifetime polysubstance use (Exp[B]=1.04, p<.05) were associated with an increased risk of lifetime gestures or attempts. Results demonstrate the high prevalence of lifetime and current suicidal thoughts and gestures or attempts among patients initiating buprenorphine treatment. Findings may help addiction providers to better identify at-risk patients and to inform screening, prevention, and mental health treatment efforts.