Asthma is associated with higher suicidal thoughts with
attempted suicide, but does not seem to be linked with suicidal
thoughts without attempts, according to a report published this month
in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Cigarette
smoking and concurrent mental health conditions may independently
account for significant proportions (but not all) of the association
between asthma and suicidal thoughts with attempts noted Diana E.
Clarke, MSc, PhD, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health,
Baltimore, and colleagues.
There is growing evidence of
relationships between respiratory diseases and suicidal behaviors, but
investigators say this is the first study to examine the association
between asthma and suicidal thinking with and without attempts using a
nationally representative sample of adults. They also note it is the
first study to investigate the potential role of cigarette use and
nicotine dependence in the association of asthma and suicidal behavior.
The study examined data on 5,692 individuals 18 years and older
from the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Approximately 12
percent of the sample had a history of asthma. The estimates of
lifetime prevalence for suicidal ideation without and with attempts and asthma were 8.7 percent, 4.2 percent and 12.0 percent, respectively,
and occurred more frequently in women that men. Despite adjustments for
cigarette smoking, concurrent mental health conditions and common
sociodemographic factors, a statistically significant association
remained between asthma and suicide thoughts and attempts.
Investigators
suggest that asthma may be associated with the more severe form of
suicidal behavior, but not the milder forms of suicidal thoughts
without attempts.
“Researchers have speculated that the
relationship between asthma and suicidal behaviors is possibly because
of ensuing mood and anxiety that results from disability and discomfort
associated with asthma, which can be a lifelong disease,” they note.
“Individuals might have frequent thoughts of death with increasing
severity solely because they have a potentially life-threatening
illness.”
Although this was not a clinical study, the findings
may indicate the need for referral to mental services if an individual
has asthma and expresses suicidal thoughts.
Citation: Clarke
DE, Goodwin RD, Messias E, Eaton WW. Asthma and suicidal ideation with
and without suicide attempts among adults in the United States: What is
the role of cigarette smoking and mental disorders? Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008;100:439-446.
Health and Medical 
