Depression and Suicidal Behavior Comorbidity in Patients Admitted to Substance-Use Residential Treatment in Aguascalientes, Mexico

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Epidemiological studies show that depressive and substance use disorders are salient risk factors for suicidal behavior. In residential centers in Mexico City, 75.72% of the patients are diagnosed with comorbidity of substance use and psychiatric disorders; however, the specific prevalence of depression and suicidal behavior in this population has not been reported. This study aims to inform the comorbidity of depression and suicidal behavior in crystal users in residential centers in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Method

A brief survey was applied to measure substance use patterns, suicidal behavior, and depression symptoms using the Depression Scale of the Center of Epidemiological Studies (CES-D-R). The sample included 343 participants.

Results

The results show that of the 23.3% of participants who reported depressive symptoms, 65% showed suicidal ideation, 46% suicide planning, and 43% suicidal attempt.

Discussions

These results show the importance of implementing components that address depression and suicidal behavior in interventions for substance use.

Conclusions

Currently, no specialized interventions are developed to treat substance use disorders with crystal methamphetamine and, at the same time, treat others mental problems like depression and suicidal behavior. We conclude that the development of this intervention is necessary and urgent.

KEYWORDS:

• Suicidal behavior
• substance use
• depression
• residential centers
• crystal methamphetamine

Acknowledgments

To the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT) for financing this study through project number 3225 entitled “Development and evaluation of indicated and selective intervention programs in crystal, fentanyl and heroin users, and their comorbidity with mental health problems and suicidal behavior.” To the students of the Addictive Behavior Research Laboratory of the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes for their support in collecting data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [3225].