INTRODUCTION: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have historically been considered at low risk for suicide, but recent studies are controversial. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in OCD patients and to compare those with and without suicidality according to demographic and clinical variables. METHODS: Fifty outpatients with primary OCD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) from a Brazilian public university were evaluated. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to assess OCD severity, the Beck Depression Inventory to evaluate depressive symptoms and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test to assess alcohol problems. RESULTS: All patients had obsessions and compulsions, 64% a chronic fluctuating course and 62% a minimum Y-BOCS score of 16. Half of the patients presented relevant depressive symptoms, but only three had a history of alcohol problems. Seventy percent reported having already thought that life was not worth living, 56% had wished to be dead, 46% had suicidal ideation, 20% had made suicidal plans, and 10% had already attempted suicide. Current suicidal ideation occurred in 14% of the sample and was significantly associated with a Y-BOCS score >16. Previous suicidal thoughts were associated with a Beck Depression Inventory score >19. CONCLUSION: Suicidality has been underestimated in OCD and should be investigated in every patient, so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken.
INTRODUCTION:Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have historically been considered at low risk for suicide, but recent studies are controversial. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in OCDpatients and to compare those with and without suicidality according to demographic and clinical variables. METHODS: Fifty outpatients with primary OCD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) from a Brazilian public university were evaluated. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to assess OCD severity, the Beck Depression Inventory to evaluate depressive symptoms and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test to assess alcohol problems. RESULTS: All patients had obsessions and compulsions, 64% a chronic fluctuating course and 62% a minimum Y-BOCS score of 16. Half of the patients presented relevant depressive symptoms, but only three had a history of alcohol problems. Seventy percent reported having already thought that life was not worth living, 56% had wished to be dead, 46% had suicidal ideation, 20% had made suicidal plans, and 10% had already attempted suicide. Current suicidal ideation occurred in 14% of the sample and was significantly associated with a Y-BOCS score >16. Previous suicidal thoughts were associated with a Beck Depression Inventory score >19. CONCLUSION: Suicidality has been underestimated in OCD and should be investigated in every patient, so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken.
Authors: Eric A Storch; Regina Bussing; Marni L Jacob; Joshua M Nadeau; Erika Crawford; P Jane Mutch; Dana Mason; Adam B Lewin; Tanya K Murphy Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2015-02
Authors: Maria S Signorelli; Carmen Concerto; Eliana Battaglia; Maria C Costanzo; Fortunato Battaglia; Eugenio Aguglia Journal: SAGE Open Med Case Rep Date: 2014-12-04
Authors: L Fernández de la Cruz; M Rydell; B Runeson; B M D'Onofrio; G Brander; C Rück; P Lichtenstein; H Larsson; D Mataix-Cols Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2016-07-19 Impact factor: 15.992