Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41237195›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Protocol for research examination of individual suicides occurring in chronic pain: A qualitative approach to psychological autopsy methodology.

Stefan G Kertesz, Allyson L Varley, April E Hoge, Thomas E Joiner, Beth D Darnall, Kate M Nicholson, Lera A Fuqua, Mary F Gilmore, Kevin R Riggs, Stephanie A Gamble and 9 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Stefan G KerteszDepartment of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6101-8421
Allyson L VarleyBirmingham VA Health Care System, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
April E HogeBirmingham VA Health Care System, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
Thomas E JoinerDepartment of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America.
Beth D DarnallDepartment of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Kate M NicholsonNational Pain Advocacy Center, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America.
Lera A FuquaUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
Mary F GilmoreBirmingham VA Health Care System, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
Kevin R RiggsDepartment of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
Stephanie A GambleCanandaigua VA Medical Center, Ontario County, New York, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6733-9609
Adam J GordonInformatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.
Yogesh DwivediDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
Mark FlowerDryhootch, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America.
Christin S VeasleyChronic Pain Research Alliance, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America.
Carla Stumpf PattonTragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Arlington, Virginia, United States of America,.
Ashley S LealTragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Arlington, Virginia, United States of America,.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4102-663X
Dawn M GibsonCommunity Leadership Council, U.S. Pain Foundation, West Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America,.
James E ElliottButler Snow LLP, Macon, Georgia, United States of America,.
Megan B McCulloughCenter for Healthcare Optimization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Health Care System, Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America,.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn the United States, taper and discontinuation of opioids prescribed for long-term pain have emerged as statistical correlates of suicidal events. Suicide is a complex and multidetermined event reflecting a combination of risks occurring over time in a particular narrative context. Prevention of suicides should be informed by a detailed understanding of life events, pain-related and other risk factors contributing to these tragedies. To date, there have been no efforts to qualitatively profile these suicides through interview of bereaved survivors or review of medical records. This method is usually termed "psychological autopsy.".

aimsThis paper summarizes the protocol for the Clinical Context of Suicide Following Opioid Transitions (CSI:OPIOIDs) study. The study seeks to qualitatively characterize patient and clinical context factors associated with suicide among persons who died by suicide in the context of opioid stoppage or reduction, and to compare findings between Veteran and non-Veteran decedents.

methodsIn the United States, there is no master list for suicide deaths linked to an antemortem health care event. For this reason, recruitment requires public advertising followed by screening of bereaved individuals who wish to participate. Data collection and interpretation are guided by the Social-Ecological Model for suicide. The study involves a collaboration of persons with lived experience and disciplinary experts in suicide, primary care, pain, health services, and medical anthropology.

conclusionsThis study aims to deliver the first in-depth analysis of suicide events occurring in persons with chronic pain who died by suicide in the context of a prescription opioid reduction or stoppage. The results should provide insights that can guide alterations to care by health systems and by individual practitioners.

Indexed as

Chronic PainSuicideAdultAnalgesics, OpioidAutopsyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchRisk FactorsUnited StatesVeteransAnalgesics, Opioid

Identifiers

PMID41237195
PMCPMC12617874

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.