Type-D personality and depersonalization are associated with suicidal ideation in the German general population aged 35-74: results from the Gutenberg Heart Study.
BACKGROUND
Suicidal ideation (SID) is a major risk factor for suicide attempts. Mental disorders are among the strongest correlates of suicide, with depression and anxiety disorders playing a major role. The present study aims to investigate the contribution of under researched factors contributing to SID such as depersonalization, Type-D personality and cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
Factors associated with SID were investigated in a sample of N=5000 participants (aged 35-74 years) of the community-based survey "Gutenberg Heart Study". The factors were assessed by self-report instruments, computer-assisted interviews and medical examination.


RESULTS
7.5% of the sample reported SID over the last 2 weeks. In the univariate analysis SID was significantly associated with female sex, living without a partner, low socioeconomic status, diagnosis of coronary heart disease, family history of myocardial infarction, smoking and mental distress. In the full adjusted model significant associations remained with age (in years) OR 1.02 (95%CI 1.01-1.04, p=0.002), self-reported depression OR 3.21 (95%CI 2.23-4.62, p<0.0001), panic disorder OR 1.56 (95%CI 1.03-2.36, p=0.036), depersonalization OR 2.45 (95%CI 1.78-3.38, p<0.0001), Type-D personality OR 1.98 (95%CI 1.49-2.63, p<0.0001) and impairment by mental distress OR 2.15 (95%CI 1.74-2.67, p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Main limitations are the reliance on self-report measures of SID and of mental distress.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time it has been shown that in the general population depersonalization and Type-D personality are uniquely associated with SID. These associations need further elucidation.
Michal
Matthias
M
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. Michal@psychosomatik.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Wiltink
Jörg
J
Till
Yvonne
Y
Wild
Philipp S
PS
Münzel
Thomas
T
Blankenberg
Stefan
S
Beutel
Manfred E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014434:Type A Personality