Perpetration of intimate partner violence and suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, and non-suicidal self-harm: a cross-sectional secondary analysis using the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.

AIMS: Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicidal behaviour may also be raised among those who perpetrate IPV compared to those who do not; general population-based evidence is, however, lacking. We aimed to investigate the associations between using violence against an intimate partner with suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-harm in the past year.

METHODS

We analysed data from the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Logistic regressions estimated associations between IPV perpetration and suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Associations were estimated for men and women separately, and we explored interaction in estimates by IPV victimization.

RESULTS

After adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic covariates, lifetime IPV perpetration was strongly associated with past-year suicide attempt (men: odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval 1.0-13.2, women: OR 4.2, 1.9-9.4), suicidal ideation (men: OR 2.7, 1.5-4.9, women: OR 2.6, 1.7-4.1) and self-harm (men: OR 4.9, 1.5-15.2, women: OR 3.3, 1.8-6.0). Estimates were substantially attenuated with adjustment for non-IPV life adversities, hazardous alcohol use, drug use and IPV victimization. Only the association with lifetime suicide attempt in women remained significant (OR 1.6, 1.1-2.3). Estimates were generally higher among those who had not experienced IPV victimization, although we found no evidence for interaction by IPV victimization on the association between IPV perpetration and suicidal behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

There were greater odds of suicidality and self-harm among self-reported perpetrators of IPV compared to the general population. Many of these associations were accounted for by non-IPV life adversities, IPV victimization and substance use. Improving the identification and management of IPV perpetration, and developing targeted safety planning and interventions for this group could reduce suicide for perpetrators and victims of IPV.