Self-perception of poor health and suicidal ideation in medical patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between self-perceived health and suicidal ideation among patients in general internal medicine practice settings.


METHODS
A representative sample of 4007 patients was assessed for current suicidal ideation, self-perception of health, current medical disorders and current mental disorders (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks and alcohol use disorder) with the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Patients with self-perception of poor health, compared with those who reported more favourable health perception, were significantly more likely to report current suicidal ideation (35.2% v. 8.3%; chi2 = 97.4, df = 1, P < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the perception of poor health was associated with a significantly increased risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 3.1, CI 1.9, 5.0), even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, mental disorders and common physical illnesses.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-perception of poor health is associated with a significantly increased risk of suicidal ideation among general medical patients, even in the absence of common mental and physical disorders. These findings add to a growing literature on the importance of self-perceived health in the treatment and outcomes of mental and physical well-being by documenting self-perceived poor health as a risk factor for suicidal ideation in medical patients.
Goodwin
Renee
R
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Olfson
Mark
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data