Risk of suicide among tramadol users in comparison to users of other substances

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Assessment of suicidal ideation and planning (SIP) among a sample of tramadol users in comparison to users of other substances (heroin, cannabis, and poly-substances).

Subjects & Methods: The study included 160 substance use disorder patients, recruited from Banha mental health hospital inpatients and outpatient clinics attendants. Their ages ranged between 18 and 45 years. Patients were divided into 4 groups of 40 patients each according to the drug used; cannabis, heroin, tramadol, or poly-substance. They all were subjected to full general medical history taking and examination, psychiatric examination according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSMV), Fahmy and El-Sherbini scale for social classification, Suicide ideation scale of Personality Assessment Inventory, addiction subscale of the Addiction severity index (ASI).

Results: In the tramadol group 12.5% of participants showed SIP, compared with 2.5%, 25%, and 49% of participants in cannabis, heroin, and polysubstance groups, respectively.

Conclusion: Suicidal ideation and planning among patients using tramadol seem to stand midway between cannabis users on one side and heroin and poly-substances users on the other side.

KEYWORDS:

• Tramadol
• suicide
• substance use

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.