Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, UK.
Psychol Med. 2011 Apr;41(4):771-8. doi: 10.1017/S0033291710001261. Epub 2010 Jun 16.
Personal debt is one of many factors associated with anxiety, depression and suicidality. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personal debt and suicidal ideation in the context of sociodemographic factors, employment and income, lifestyle behaviours, and recently experienced traumatic events.
Interviews were conducted with a random probability sample comprising 7461 respondents for the third national survey of psychiatric morbidity of adults in England. Fieldwork was carried out throughout 2007. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the past week, past year and lifetime was assessed and current sources of debt were recorded.
In 2007, 4.3% of adults in England had thought about taking their own life in the past 12 months, ranging from 1.8% of men aged ≥ 55 years to 7.0% of women aged 35-54 years. Those in debt were twice as likely to think about suicide after controlling for sociodemographic, economic, social and lifestyle factors. Difficulty in making hire purchase or mail order repayments and paying off credit card debt, in addition to housing-related debt (rent and mortgage arrears), was strongly associated with suicidal thoughts. Feelings of hopelessness partially mediated the relationship between debt and suicidal ideation.
The number of debts, source of the debt and reasons for debt are key correlates of suicidal ideation. Individuals experiencing difficulties in repaying their debts because they are unemployed or have had a relationship breakdown or have heavy caring responsibilities may require psychiatric evaluation in addition to debt counselling.
个人债务是与焦虑、抑郁和自杀意念相关的众多因素之一。本研究的目的是在社会人口因素、就业和收入、生活方式行为以及近期经历的创伤性事件的背景下，研究个人债务与自杀意念之间的关系。
对英国第三次成人精神病发病率全国性调查的一个随机概率样本（共 7461 名受访者）进行访谈。实地调查工作于 2007 年全年进行。评估了过去一周、过去一年和一生中出现自杀念头的频率，并记录了当前的债务来源。
2007 年，英国有 4.3%的成年人在过去 12 个月中曾考虑过自杀，从≥55 岁男性的 1.8%到 35-54 岁女性的 7.0%不等。在控制社会人口、经济、社会和生活方式因素后，有债务的人自杀的可能性是没有债务的人的两倍。除住房相关债务（租金和抵押贷款欠款）外，在购买分期付款或邮购商品和偿还信用卡债务方面遇到困难，以及与债务相关的无望感与自杀意念密切相关。
债务数量、债务来源和债务原因是自杀意念的关键相关因素。因失业、人际关系破裂或承担沉重的照顾责任而难以偿还债务的个人可能需要在债务咨询之外进行精神病评估。
