Low back pain: Risk factors for suicide should be elicited

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7560.201-a

BMJ 2006;333:201 (22 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7560.201-a

Letter

Low back pain

Risk factors for suicide should be elicited

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

EDITOR—The review by Koes et al included including psychosocialinterventions for low back pain.¹ In County Durham and Darlingtonwe have been looking at suicide prevention in several agencies.One of these areas was contact with primary care in the threemonths before suicide. We were able to get general practitioners'records for 147 out of 205 "probable" suicides cases. Of these,98 (66.7%) had seen their doctor in the three months beforesuicide. A surprising finding was that 76 of these 98 attendanceswere for low back pain.

Asking about mental wellbeing (especially depression) is importantin any ongoing medical condition, and if pertinent sensitiveinquiry about suicide thoughts. Low back pain should alert practitionersto inquire about how patients are coping and, to ask about suicidethoughts if any concerns arise.

Keith R Linsley, consultant psychiatrist

keith.linsley@cddps.nhs.uk, County Hospital, Durham DH1 4ST

Jessica Martin

County Hospital, Durham DH1 4ST

Competing interests: None declared.