Association of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression with greater risk for suicidal behavior.
OBJECTIVE
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of suicidal behavior; a major depressive episode also increases the risk for suicidal behavior. The authors' goal was to examine the effect of comorbid PTSD and major depressive episode on suicidal behavior.


METHODS
Inpatients with a diagnosis of major depressive episode (N=156) were assessed for PTSD, suicidal behavior, and clinical risk factors for suicidal acts.


RESULTS
Patients with comorbid major depressive episode and PTSD were more likely to have attempted suicide, and women with both disorders were more likely to have attempted suicide than men with both disorders. Cluster B personality disorder and PTSD were independently related to history of suicide attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
The greater rate of suicide attempts among patients with comorbid PTSD and major depressive episode was not due to differences in substance use, childhood abuse, or cluster B personality disorders.
Oquendo
Maria A
MA
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, 10032, USA. moquendo@neuron.cpmc.columbia.edu
Friend
Jeff M
JM
Halberstam
Batsheva
B
Brodsky
Beth S
BS
Burke
Ainsley K
AK
Grunebaum
Michael F
MF
Malone
Kevin M
KM
Mann
J John
JJ
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*