Early First Deployment and Risk of Suicide Attempt Among First-term Enlisted Soldiers in the U.S. Army.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We examined early first deployment and subsequent suicide attempt among U.S. Army soldiers.

Method

Using 2004-2009 administrative data and person-month records of first-term, Regular Army, enlisted soldiers with one deployment (89.2% male), we identified 1,704 soldiers with a documented suicide attempt during or after first deployment and an equal-probability control sample (n = 25,861 person-months).

Results

Logistic regression analyses indicated soldiers deployed within the first 12 months of service were more likely than later deployers to attempt suicide (OR = 1.7 [95% CI = 1.5-1.8]). Adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, service-related characteristics, and previous mental health diagnosis slightly attenuated this association (OR = 1.6 [95% CI

SUBMITTER: Naifeh JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7085964 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature