The impact of panic-agoraphobic comorbidity on suicidality in hospitalized patients with major depression.
BACKGROUND
Previous research in outpatient samples suggests that panic and agoraphobic comorbidity is related to suicidality in outpatients with major depression. The purpose of the study was to further investigate this relationship specifically in a hospitalized sample.


METHODS
This study examined the severity of current suicidal ideation and behaviors in a psychiatric hospital sample diagnosed with major depressive disorder alone (MDD; n=28) versus MDD plus panic-agoraphobic spectrum disorders (MDD+PAS; n=69).


RESULTS
Members of the MDD+PAS group were significantly more likely to have had a suicide attempt history, higher current depression severity, and higher current suicidal severity compared with individuals in the MDD alone group. The relationship between the current suicidality and comorbid PAS remained significant after controlling for the overall depression severity and other clinical factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that panic-agoraphobic comorbidity is associated with a greater risk for suicidality in hospitalized patients, which cannot be adequately explained by the level of current depression alone. The clinical and research implications for these findings are discussed.
Brown
Lily A
LA
Psychosocial Research Program, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
Gaudiano
Brandon A
BA
Miller
Ivan W
IW
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents