Problem solving for depressed suicide attempters and depressed individuals without suicide attempt.
BACKGROUND
Next to feelings of hopelessness, certain cognitive features such as problem solving deficiency, attentional bias and reduced future positive thinking are involved in the development and maintenance of suicidal behavior. The aim of this study was to examine feelings of hopelessness and problem solving ability in depressed suicide attempters and depressed individuals without a suicide attempt and to see whether these features change over time.


METHODS
Three groups of participants, depressed suicide attempters (N=23), psychiatric control group (N=27) and healthy volunteers (N=27) completed measures of hopelessness and executive planning and problem solving abilities. The two clinical groups completed all measures shortly after admission and then again 7 weeks later whereas the non-clinical control group completed measures at baseline only.


RESULTS
Both clinical groups displayed a higher level of hopelessness and poorer problem solving ability when compared to non-clinical volunteers. However, no differences were found between the two clinical groups. In neither of the clinical groups was improvement in problem solving ability between baseline and retesting observed despite the lowering of feelings of hopelessness.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnoses in the psychiatric controls group were only obtained by the psychiatrist and not checked by further documentation or questionnaires. Furthermore we did not control for personality traits which might influence cognitive functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Since feelings of hopelessness decreased over time and problem solving ability nevertheless remained stable it is important that treatment not only focuses on mood improvement of depressed suicidal and depressed non-suicidal individuals but also on teaching problem solving techniques.
Roskar
Saska
S
Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. saska.roskar@ivz-rs.si
Zorko
Maja
M
Bucik
Valentin
V
Marusic
Andrej
A
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D017524:Slovenia; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*