title: Clinical Correlates of Suicide in Suicidal Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Affective Disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common psychiatric illnesses in the background of suicide are schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and affective disorders (AD). While depression and hopelessness are important factors for suicide in psychiatric patients, the role of psychotic symptoms is unclear. We examine the comparative differences in the clinical correlates of suicide in SSD and AD patients with suicidal risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty suicidal psychiatric patients (aged between 17-60 years) were evaluated for depression severity, hopelessness, past attempts, and reasons for wanting to commit suicide at the emergency psychiatry centre. Of these 29% had SSD, 65% AD, and 6% other disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lifetime history of suicide attempts and suicide attempts in previous month were higher in SSD patients. Mean Beck Depression scores, Hopelessness, and Suicide Intention scores were significantly lower in patients with SSD as compared to AD (P≤ 0.05). More than 60% patients with SSD attributed psychotic symptoms as a reason for wanting to commit suicide, while more than 50% patients with AD attributed it to family and personal stressors (P≤ 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors associated with suicidal ideations were significantly different between SSD and AD patients. Hence, suicide prevention strategies should be based on the specific risk factors for each group, SSD and AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Hemendra
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Prabha S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: V Senthil Kumar
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Reddi
keywords: Affective disorders; emergency psychiatry; schizophrenia spectrum disorders; suicide attempts