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Understanding suicidal ideation in psychosis: findings from the Psychological Prevention of Relapse in Psychosis (PRP) trial
Author(s) -
Fialko L.,
Freeman D.,
Bebbington P. E.,
Kuipers E.,
Garety P. A.,
Dunn G.,
Fowler D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00849.x
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , psychosis , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , mood , distress , anxiety , suicide prevention , poison control , medicine , environmental health
Objective: To examine the clinically important phenomenon of suicidal ideation in psychosis in relation to affective processes and the multidimensional nature of hallucinations and delusions. Method: In a cross‐sectional study of 290 individuals with psychosis, the associations between level of suicidal ideation, affective processes, positive symptoms, clinical and demographic variables were examined. Results: Forty‐one per cent of participants expressed current suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation was associated with depressed mood, anxiety, low self‐esteem, negative illness perceptions, negative evaluative beliefs about the self and others and daily alcohol consumption. Frequency of auditory hallucinations and preoccupation with delusions were not associated with suicidal ideation; however, positive symptom distress did relate to suicidal thoughts. Conclusion: Affective dysfunction, including distress in response to hallucinations and delusions, was a key factor associated with suicidal ideation in individuals with psychotic relapse. Suicidal ideation in psychosis appears to be an understandable, mood‐driven process, rather than being of irrational or ‘psychotic’ origin.