West has the mountains but also the higher rates of suicide, that
researchers believe is associated with altitude, low population and gun
prevalence.
Those
mountains may be beautiful, but the higher altitudes may have something
to do with suicide rates being greater in those states where people
live at higher altitudes, according to new research from the University
of Utah Brain Institute.
Perry
F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, professor of psychiatry at the U School
of Medicine and researcher with the Utah Science Technology and Research
(USTAR)
initiative,
and his associates report that risk for suicide increases by nearly
one-third at an altitude of 2000 meters, or 6,500 feet above sea level.
These results are now available in the Sept. 15, 2010, online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
These
results are important in noting that those states in the West have the
highest average elevations and also the highest suicide rates.
In
2006, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico,
Arizona, and Oregon accounted for nine of the 10 highest suicide rates
in the country. Alaska also was in the top 10 in suicide rates. Nevada
led at number 1.
“We
thought it was reasonable to ask if some aspect of high altitude is
related to suicide,” he said. “Altitude was the strongest factor we
could find in our study. But we believe there’s also some other factor
we can’t account for yet.”
Researchers
analyzed data from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) database with information on 3,108 counties in the lower 48 states
and District of Columbia, Renshaw and his associates maintained their
conclusion that altitude is an independent risk factor for suicide.
analyzed data from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) database with information on 3,108 counties in the lower 48 states
and District of Columbia, Renshaw and his associates maintained their
conclusion that altitude is an independent risk factor for suicide.
"This
association may have arisen from the effects of metabolic stress
associated with mild hypoxia (inadequate oxygen intake)” in people with
mood disorders. In other words, people with problems such as depression
might be at greater risk for suicide if they live at higher altitudes."
Renshaw says.
association may have arisen from the effects of metabolic stress
associated with mild hypoxia (inadequate oxygen intake)” in people with
mood disorders. In other words, people with problems such as depression
might be at greater risk for suicide if they live at higher altitudes."
Renshaw says.
Researchers
also found these same states with higher altitudes also had the higher
rates of gun ownership, which has already been established to figure in
higher suicide rates.
also found these same states with higher altitudes also had the higher
rates of gun ownership, which has already been established to figure in
higher suicide rates.
New data from the Utah Violent Death Reporting System shows suicides in
the state are on the rise, increasing nearly 13 percent from 2008 to
2009.
Colorado, the nation’s highest state in terms of elevation at an average
of 7,217 feet above sea level, had 15.8 suicides per 100,000 people,
the seventh highest rate. Nevada had the highest suicide rate at19.6 per
100,000 people.
These
same results were obtained from a replication of this research in Korea
by Namkug Kim, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow under Renshaw.
same results were obtained from a replication of this research in Korea
by Namkug Kim, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow under Renshaw.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, guns are
used in 50 percent of all suicides. It has also been found more than 60
percent of people who take their own lives have major depression at the
time.
Research has shown that lack of oxygen at higher altitudes is associated with worsening mood that can last for up to 90 days.
In
response to this study, William M. McMahon, M.D., professor and
chairman of psychiatry at the University of Utah, believes the study
will help in the understanding of higher suicide rates occur.
“Dissecting the many environmental and genetic factors leading to high
rates of suicide in Utah and the surrounding mountain states has been a
daunting task,” he said. “This study is a real milestone.”
