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Depressive characteristics of adult psychiatric inpatients with a history of multiple versus one or no suicide attempts
Author(s) -
Gibb Brandon E.,
Andover Margaret S.,
Miller Ivan W.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20412
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , dysfunctional family , depression (economics) , psychopathology , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , suicide attempt , major depressive disorder , poison control , population , major depressive episode , injury prevention , medicine , medical emergency , mood , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Background : A growing body of research suggests that individuals with a history of multiple suicide attempts exhibit more severe psychopathology than individuals with only one or no previous suicide attempts. Given the strong link between diagnoses of major depression and suicide risk, our primary goal was to determine which specific depressive characteristics differentiate multiple attempters from patients with one or no previous attempts. Methods : Participants were 121 depressed adult psychiatric inpatients. Participants were administered diagnostic interviews to assess the course and characteristics of their depression history as well as measures of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and dysfunctional attitudes. Results : Patients with a history of multiple suicide attempts exhibited higher levels of suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms, but not hopelessness or dysfunctional attitudes, than the other two groups. In addition, multiple attempters reported an earlier age of major depression onset. Conclusions : The current results add to a growing body of research suggesting that multiple attempters may represent a distinct patient population. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.