Concussion May Increase Long-Term Suicide Risk In Adults

Reuters (2/8, Doyle) reports that concussion may result in a threefold increase in the long-term suicide risk in adults, the findings of a 235,000-participant study published online Feb. 8 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggest.

According to AFP (2/8), “the likelihood of suicide was even greater among those whose head injury was incurred on the weekend, suggesting they had hurt themselves during a recreational activity.” Overall, whether concussions were incurred on the job or during recreation, “the average time from concussion to subsequent suicide was nearly six years.”

The ABC News (2/8, Hawkins) website reports that because “each additional concussion is associated with a further increase” in the risk for suicide, the study’s lead researcher, Donald Redelmeier, MD, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada, “said the findings emphasize that it’s important for medical” professionals “to be aware of a patient’s concussion history.” Dr. Redelmeier also “said he is hopeful that the research will encourage doctors to take a second look at patients who had a concussion, even if the concussion occurred years ago.”

Related Links:

— “Risk of suicide increases three-fold after a concussion,” Kathryn Doyle, Reuters, February 8, 2016.

Posted in In The News.