Attempted suicide and depression in schizophrenia.
The relationships between symptoms and both prior suicide attempts and current suicidal thinking were examined in a sample of schizophrenics at 2 points in time. Fifty subjects meeting DSM-III criteria for schizophrenia were assessed within 1 week of admission, and 41 were reassessed at a 6-month follow-up. On admission, prior suicide attempts were significantly associated with current depression, female sex, lower education and more frequent hospitalization. The association with depression remained significant at follow-up. In addition, current suicidal thinking was associated with depression at both times but also with negative symptoms at time 1 and delusions and hallucinations at time 2. These findings confirm and strengthen prior reports of an association between depression and attempted suicide.
Addington
D E
DE
Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Addington
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*