Puzzling study on breast implants, suicide: Rate triple that of general population, but reasons unclear

The latest study, published Wednesday, found that Finnish women who had cosmetic implants were more than three times more likely to commit suicide than the general population — in line with findings from a similar study of Swedish women and one of American women conducted by the National Cancer Institute.

All three studies also found that women with implants had overall death rates the same or better than the general populations, suggesting that the implanted devices were not causing disease during the time period studied, as once feared.

But the studies all noted the suicide rate as significantly — and at this point inexplicably — higher than expected.

Right now, please stop reading, close your eyes and think. What might cause this finding? Clearly, the data do not come from randomized controlled trials. Therefore, we must consider two possibilities – cause-effect or a confounding variable.

I have difficulty imagining and cause-effect hypothesis (although someone may develop a reasonable one). I can more easily imagine a confounding variable.

Now we must consider ways in which women who get breast implants differ from those who do not. These are (it seems to me) very different groups. The article speculates.

Some researchers contend the high suicide rate is a result of the psychological makeup of the women choosing implants — that they are, as a group, women with problems different from the general population. Others say, however, that the high suicide rates are a function of the difficulties and pain that sometimes crop up years after the surgery.

McLaughlin said the data did not confirm a cause-and-effect connection between breast implants and suicide, and said it may instead be related to the nature of the women who select them. “In fact,” he said, “it could be that because of characteristics of women who get implants, it may be that women who get them may reduce their risk of later suicide.”

So what do we do with this information? I suggest that we consider these important thoughts:

In an article accompanying the Finnish study, University of Pennsylvania professor David Sarwer argued that plastic surgeons should make greater efforts to understand the psychological and emotional state of women seeking implants. He wrote that if a woman shows signs of instability or a history of psychiatric care, mental health professionals should be contacted before any implants are approved.

Speaking at last month’s meeting of the American Medical Association, Sarwer said that 7 to 15 percent of women having plastic surgery have dysmorphic disorder, a preoccupation with a slight or imagined defect in appearance. He said that these women in particular do not respond well to cosmetic surgery.

Related posts:

1. Physician assisted suicide – the Oregon experience
2. Antidepressants and suicide
3. Is the Oregon assisted suicide law legal?
4. The Supremes and physician assisted suicide
5. Previous writings on physician assisted suicide

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