Language
English
Publication Date
3-1-2025
Journal
Journal of Psychiatric Research
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.02.039
PMID
40020650
PMCID
PMC12598846
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-11-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
The rate of death by suicide is elevated among Veterans of all eras. Chronic symptoms of pain, depression, and sleep disturbances are also common among Veterans, and these symptoms are associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. About 25% of the 697,000 Gulf War Era Veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf theater in 1990-1991 remain afflicted with chronic, unexplained symptoms known as Gulf War Illness (GWI). This study used data from a national sample of Gulf War Veterans (N = 1142) who completed a survey of demographic, military, and health information. Multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for confounding variables, tested for associations between deployment, a tri-level categorical variable of GWI (no GWI; moderate GWI; and severe GWI) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Deployment was not associated with any suicide related outcome. Moderate and severe GWI remained significantly associated with past year suicidal ideation (moderate GWI: aOR 3.94; 95% CI: 1.55-10.03; severe GWI: aOR 3.66; 95% CI: 1.31-10.20), but they were not associated with suicide attempts. Our findings suggest that the burden and negative impact of the chronic symptoms of GWI may play a role in the occurrence of suicidal ideation in Gulf War Veterans (GWV). Clinicians caring for GWVs should attend to both chronic symptoms, and the elevated risk of suicidal thoughts in this cohort.
Keywords
Humans, Persian Gulf Syndrome, Male, Veterans, Female, Suicidal Ideation, Adult, Middle Aged, Gulf War, United States, Young Adult
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Lipsky, Rachele K; Helmer, Drew A; Beckham, Jean C; et al., "The Association Between Gulf War Illness and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Gulf War Era Veterans" (2025). Faculty and Staff Publications. 4507.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/4507