title: Alexithymia and perfectionism traits are associated with suicidal risk in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited evidence on suicidality and its associated factors in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study investigated the potential contributing traits such as alexithymia and perfectionism and clinical risk factors including symptom dimensions associated with high suicidality in OCD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 81 patients with OCD were included (mean age: 28.89 years, SD=7.95 years, 62% men). Suicidal risk was assessed using the Scale for Suicide Ideation and history taking. To assess alexithymia and perfectionism, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and the Measure of Constructs Underlying Perfectionism were applied. Clinical characteristics of OCD were assessed with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Among OCD patients, 37% had a history of previous suicidal attempt, and 56.8% had current suicidal ideation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those with lifetime suicide attempts scored significantly higher for alexithymia and ego-dystonic perfectionism than those without such history. In the binary logistic regression analysis, high score for alexithymia and the responsibility for harm, injury, or bad luck were significant determinants for lifetime suicide attempts. As for current suicide ideation, ego-dystonic perfectionism and the dimension of unacceptable thought were significant predictors of suicidal risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The classification of suicidal risk and personality traits relied on self-report measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings indicate that personality traits such as alexithymia and perfectionism may contribute to high suicidality in patients with OCD, and patients suffering with unacceptable thoughts need to be assessed more carefully for warning signs of suicide.
authors.affiliation: Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Heeyeon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jiwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namkoong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: kimsejoo@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Se Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: jeeinkang@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jee In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
keywords: Alexithymia; Obsessive–compulsive disorder; Perfectionism; Suicidality; Suicide; Unacceptable thoughts