University of Michigan Ann Arbor researchers say that people who suffer from chronic pain has a higher risk for suicide. The study was composed of almost 5,700 U.S. adults. It was found out that those who are experiencing chronic pain other than arthritis are four folds more likely to entertain suicidal thoughts than those who are not experiencing pain.

Pain in the head and in many body areas are more prone to suicidal ideation and behavior according to the group of researchers in University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

They found out that both men and women who have frequent spells of severe headaches are two times more likely to have entertained the thought of suicide. People who have also reported to have experienced pains in other parts of their body are also high risk for suicide.

Among those who have muliple painful conditions, 14 percent said that they have already thought aout suicide while a near 6 percent said that they have actually attempted to take their own life.

The lead researcher Dr. Mark A. Ilgen said in a written statement, “Pain is one of those factors that may make someone feel more hopeless and less optimistic about the future and increases the chances that they will think about suicide.”

Ilgen, who is a psychologist at Ann Arbor VA Hospital noted that majority of people with painful health situations will not become suicidal. However, they have findings of an above average suicide risk for people who have chronic pain according to the report of Ilgen and his colleagues in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.

For example, there are studies that found out that people who suffer from migraine have an increased risk for depression and suicidal behavior.

In the present study, about 8 percent of migraine sufferers admitted to havig though about suicide compared to the 2 percent of adults who have no chronic head pain.

The researchers also took into consideration other factors such as psychiatric disorders of an individual. However, the pain remain a link to suicidal behaviors.

Ilgen said, “This is further evidence that we need to be aware of the heightened risk for suicide in those with chronic pain.” He also said that more research should be done to determine the people who are going to be high risk and how to prevent it.

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