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Ilgen MA, Zivin K, McCammon RJ, Valenstein M. Mental illness, previous suicidality, and access to guns in the United States. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.). 2008 Feb 1; 59(2):198-200.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between mental disorders, prior suicidality, and access to guns and gun safety in the U.S. population. METHODS: Using data from adult participants (N = 5,692) from the National Comorbidity Survey: Replication (NCS-R), this study examined relationships between mental disorders, past suicidality, and gun access and safety practices. RESULTS: Individuals with lifetime mental disorders (N = 3,528) were as likely as those without (N = 2,034) to have access to a gun (34.1% versus 36.3%; odds ratio [OR] = .9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .8-1.1), carry a gun (4.8% versus 5.0%; OR = 1.0, CI = .7-1.40), or store a gun in an unsafe manner (6.2% versus 7.3%; OR = .9, CI = .5-1.4). However, individuals with a prior suicide attempt were less likely than those without such an attempt to have access to a gun (23.8% versus 36.0%; OR = .6, CI = .5-.8). CONCLUSIONS: Given the previously established relationship between mental health risk factors and suicide, this study highlights the need to assess for gun access among high-risk individuals.