Cannabis use disorder and suicide attempts in Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans
posted 02/01/2017
publication http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.01.002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.01.002
Nathan A. Kimbrel ['] Correspondence information about the author Nathan A. Kimbrel Email the author Nathan A. Kimbrel
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Amie R. Newins Eric A. Dedert Elizabeth E. Van Voorhees Eric B. Elbogen Jennifer C. Naylor H. Ryan Wagner Mira Brancu
VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroupb, Jean C. Beckham Patrick S. Calhoun
Abstract
The objective of the present research was to examine the association between lifetime cannabis use disorder (CUD), current suicidal ideation, and lifetime history of suicide attempts in a large and diverse sample of Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans (N = 3233) using a battery of well-validated instruments. As expected, CUD was associated with both current suicidal ideation (OR = 1.683, p = 0.008) and lifetime suicide attempts (OR = 2.306, p < 0.0001), even after accounting for the effects of sex, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, alcohol use disorder, non-cannabis drug use disorder, history of childhood sexual abuse, and combat exposure. Thus, the findings from the present study suggest that CUD may be a unique predictor of suicide attempts among Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans; however, a significant limitation of the present study was its cross-sectional design. Prospective research aimed at understanding the complex relationship between CUD, mental health problems, and suicidal behavior among veterans is clearly needed at the present time.
