• Emiko Petrosky, Rafael Harpaz, Katherine A Fowler, Michele K Bohm, Charles G Helmick, Keming Yuan, and Carter J Betz.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (E.P., R.H., K.A.F., M.K.B., C.G.H., K.Y., C.J.B.).
• Ann. Intern. Med. 2018 Oct 2; 169 (7): 448455448-455.

BackgroundMore than 25 million adults in the United States have chronic pain. Chronic pain has been associated with suicidality, but previous studies primarily examined nonfatal suicidal behaviors rather than suicide deaths associated with chronic pain or the characteristics of such deaths.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of chronic pain among suicide decedents in a large multistate sample and to characterize suicide decedents with and without chronic pain.DesignRetrospective analysis of National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data. The NVDRS links death certificate, coroner or medical examiner, and law enforcement data collected by investigators, who often interview informants who knew the decedent to gather information on precipitating circumstances surrounding the suicide. Information is abstracted by using standard coding guidance developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Setting18 states participating in the NVDRS.ParticipantsSuicide decedents with and without chronic pain who died during 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2014.MeasurementsDemographic characteristics, mechanism of death, toxicology results, precipitating circumstances (mental health, substance use, interpersonal problems, life stressors), and suicide planning and intent.ResultsOf 123 181 suicide decedents included in the study, 10 789 (8.8%) had evidence of chronic pain, and the percentage increased from 7.4% in 2003 to 10.2% in 2014. More than half (53.6%) of suicide decedents with chronic pain died of firearm-related injuries and 16.2% by opioid overdose.LimitationThe results probably underrepresent the true percentage of suicide decedents who had chronic pain, given the nature of the data and how they were captured.ConclusionChronic pain may be an important contributor to suicide. Access to quality, comprehensive pain care and adherence to clinical guidelines may help improve pain management and patient safety.Primary Funding SourceNone.

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