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Substance use, severe depression linked with suicide risk in patients with psychotic disorders

Researchers found factors like substance use and greater depression severity contributed to a higher overall risk of suicide for patients with psychotic disorders in a partial hospital program.

“Taken together, our results highlight the difficulty in predicting suicidality among severely psychiatrically ill patients with psychotic disorders,” Bridget A. Hearon, PhD, of the department of psychology, Boston University, and colleagues wrote in their study. “However, substance use difficulties (and depression severity to a lesser degree) represent a notable risk factor for greater suicidality underscoring the importance of assessing, monitoring, and treating substance use behavior among such patients.”

Hearon and colleagues evaluated 116 patients with a range of psychiatric disorders who were at a moderate or high risk for suicide as identified by the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview. The researchers noted that older age was a significant factor in suicide risk. They found no significant differences in risk of suicide based on marital status, gender, minority race, employment status, rate of hospitalization, or living alone compared to living with others.

When analyzing self-reported psychotic disorders with the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-24), Hearon and colleagues found no significant differences in suicide risk among patients. However, they noted significant differences for patients with a greater depression severity and substance use, with clinical differences seen for patients who had difficulties with relationships and changes in emotion.

In future studies, the researchers will look at the effects of these predictors on suicide attempts and gestures and assess a more ethno-racially diverse population. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.