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Comparison of suicide attempts in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder: An exploratory study
Author(s) -
Banwari Girish H.,
Vankar Ganpat K.,
Parikh Minakshi N.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-5872.2012.00188.x
Subject(s) - major depressive disorder , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , suicide attempt , suicide prevention , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , mood
Schizophrenia and major depressive disorder ( MDD ) are among the most common psychiatric diagnoses associated with suicide. There is a dearth of published research systematically comparing suicidal behavior in schizophrenia and MDD . The present study aimed to compare suicide attempts in schizophrenia and MDD . Methods In this hospital‐based, cross‐sectional study, 50 outpatients each of schizophrenia and MDD were evaluated for their sociodemographic characteristics. In subjects with a history of suicide attempt(s), additional information related to the attempt(s) was obtained. S uicide I ntent S cale ( SIS ) was used to assess the suicidal intent and M ini I nternational N europsychiatric I nterview ( MINI ) was used to measure the current suicidal risk. Results Thirty‐four percent and 44% of patients with schizophrenia and MDD , respectively, attempted suicide. The attempters in schizophrenia compared to those in MDD were younger and more likely to be single (unmarried, separated or divorced). Suicidal intent was stronger in schizophrenia, while the attempters with MDD were more often preoccupied with a death wish and reported that stressful life events influenced the attempt. There were no differences in the attempt methods of the two groups. Current suicidal risk was higher in attempters compared to the non‐attempters in schizophrenia as well as MDD . Discussion Suicide attempts in schizophrenia and MDD have similar features, with quite a few notable differences, which have been discussed at length in the present paper.