Economic hardship as an independent risk factor for suicidality in individuals with gambling disorder

Abstract Background Gambling disorder is an important problem around the world and is linked to self-harm and suicides which are more common in people with gambling disorders than in people without. Economic hardship is believed to be a risk factor for self-harm in people with gambling disorder and is also common among people with gambling disorder. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate economic hardship, defined here as social welfare payments, as a possible risk factor for suicide in people with a gambling disorder. Methods This case-control study contained data from registers including 3592 people with gambling disorder, compared to a total of 7184 age- and gender-matched controls, all with an age of 18 or older. These groups were used to analyze the association between suicide/suicide attempts and social welfare payments and adjust this risk to other possible risk factors. Lastly, a comparison was made between potential suicides/suicides attempts in regard to when in time the individuals received social welfare payments and compare the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, age and gender with the different outcomes. Results The OR for suicide or suicide attempts when receiving social welfare payments, in the group with a gambling disorder, was 1.94 (CI 95%, 1.64–2.30). However, this risk was even greater among the control group with an OR of 3.14 (CI 95%, 2.34–4.20). Adjusted to other risk factors, both psychiatric disorders and being diagnosed with gambling disorder seemed to be a greater risk for suicide/suicide attempts. Conclusions In conclusion, even though social welfare payments seemed to be a risk factor for suicide in the gambling disorder group, the risk was greater within the control group and other risk factors than social welfare payments appeared to play a bigger part when it comes to suicides/suicide attempts. The generally increased risk of suicidal behaviour in people with over-indebtedness is confirmed.