Ursano et al identified risk factors for a suicide attempt by a U.S. Army soldier without a history of mental health problems. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from a mental health intervention. The authors are from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Harvard University, University of Michigan, University of California San Diego and Veterans Affairs San Diego.
Patient selection: U.S. Army soldier without history of mental health problems
Risk factors for a suicide attempt:
(1) female sex (OR 2.6)
(2) lack of a high school diploma (OR 1.9)
(3) first year of military service (OR 6.0)
(4) previously deployed (OR 2.4)
(5) demotion in past year (OR 1.6);
(6) late promotion
(6a) <= 2 months (OR 2.1)
(6b) > 2 months (OR 1.7)
(7) outpatient physical health care visits in the past 2 months
(7a) >= 8 visits (OR 3.3);
(7b) 5-7 visits (OR 2.4)
(8) injury-related health visit in the past month
(8a) outpatient visit (OR 3.0)
(8b) inpatient visit (OR 3.8)
(9) previous combat injury (OR 1.6)
(10) subjected to violent crime
(10a) minor violent crime (OR 1.6)
(10b) major violent crime (OR 1.5)
(11) perpetrator in crime
(11a) major violent crime (OR 2.0)
(11b) minor violent crime (OR 1.8)
(11c) nonviolent crime (OR 2.0)
(12) family violence (OR 2.9)
The risk of suicide increases with the number of risk factors present.
The same risk factors also affected soldiers with a history of mental health problems but with different weightings.
