Sandra Pérez1, Jose H Marco1, Joaquin García-Alandete1. 1. Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Martir, Department of Personality, Assessment and Therapeutic Intervention, Valencia, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, there is a need for studies to identify variables that can differentiate patients with suicide ideation at risk of transitioning to an attempt. METHOD: In this study, we assessed suicide ideation and attempts, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), hopelessness, borderline symptoms and meaning in life in a sample of 348 patients with different diagnoses of mental disorders. We divided the sample into four subgroups: patients without suicide ideation or suicide attempts; patients with current suicide ideation; patients with lifetime suicide attempts and patients with a suicide attempt in the previous year. RESULTS: The group with suicide attempts in the previous year showed higher levels of hopelessness, borderline symptoms and NSSI, and lower levels of meaning in life than the other groups. LIMITATIONS: Groups were composed of unequal numbers of patients, and in some of them, the sample size was small. The sample was composed mainly of women with eating disorders. The study design was retrospective, and so the results must be considered in terms of correlates. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hopelessness, borderline symptoms-including NSSI-and meaning in life play a key role in suicide attempts. Thus, psychotherapeutic interventions should focus on managing NSSI, searching for meaning and managing emptiness, loss of control and feelings such as self-contempt in patients with suicide ideation.
BACKGROUND: Although suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, there is a need for studies to identify variables that can differentiate patients with suicide ideation at risk of transitioning to an attempt. METHOD: In this study, we assessed suicide ideation and attempts, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), hopelessness, borderline symptoms and meaning in life in a sample of 348 patients with different diagnoses of mental disorders. We divided the sample into four subgroups: patients without suicide ideation or suicide attempts; patients with current suicide ideation; patients with lifetime suicide attempts and patients with a suicide attempt in the previous year. RESULTS: The group with suicide attempts in the previous year showed higher levels of hopelessness, borderline symptoms and NSSI, and lower levels of meaning in life than the other groups. LIMITATIONS: Groups were composed of unequal numbers of patients, and in some of them, the sample size was small. The sample was composed mainly of women with eating disorders. The study design was retrospective, and so the results must be considered in terms of correlates. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hopelessness, borderline symptoms-including NSSI-and meaning in life play a key role in suicide attempts. Thus, psychotherapeutic interventions should focus on managing NSSI, searching for meaning and managing emptiness, loss of control and feelings such as self-contempt in patients with suicide ideation.
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