Exploring Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempts Among HIV-Positive Patients During the First Six Months to One Year After Their Diagnosis

Abstract

HIV-positive patients are at high risk of suicide behaviors. Because most previous studies have investigated suicide behaviors among HIV-positive patients during their first six months of diagnosis only, there is a current lack of understanding of suicide behaviors among this group. This study aimed at HIV-positive patients who had been diagnosed between six months and one year ago and examined their suicide ideation and suicide attempt profiles and the associated factors of suicide. This study adopted a cross-sectional design. A total of 114 HIV-positive patients were interviewed in the HIV clinics of a medical center in Taipei City. Information collections included demographic and HIV-related data and measurements of suicide ideation, suicide attempt, depression, body image, meaning in life, and social support. Independent samples t tests, chi square tests, and logistic regressions were conducted to examine the associated factors and predictors of suicide ideation and suicide attempt. Slightly over one-quarter (27.2 %) of the participants reported suicide ideation and 14.0% reported attempting suicide in recent one week prior the study interview. Duration since being diagnosed HIV-positive, level of education, and history of depression were each associated with suicide ideation, while only history of depression was associated with suicide attempt. Having a higher level of education and having a higher level of social (family) support were both predictors of lower risk of suicide ideation, while having a higher level of depression predicted a greater risk of suicide attempt. This study found high prevalences of suicide ideation and attempting suicide among HIV-positive patients during the six month to one year period after diagnosis. Moreover, the prevalence was similar to that among HIV-positive patients during the first six months of diagnosis. Suicide prevention should be a focus of care plans provided to HIV-positive patients during their first year after diagnosis. These results may be provided as a reference for developing suicide-prevention strategies for HIV-positive patients. Routine screening for depression, guiding families to increase their provision of social support, and giving assistance to individuals with higher levels of depression contribute to the effective prevention of suicide among HIV-positive patients.