Psychological Risk Factors of Suicide Attempts in Patients Admitted to Emergency Departments

Abstract

Background: Suicide, as a leading cause of death, needs more attention to discover different aspects of its occurrence and to implement proper programs for prevention and control. Objectives: This study aimed to assess psychological risk factors of suicidal attempts in patients referred to the hospitals. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, demographic characteristics, environmental stressors and three questionnaires [beck scale of suicide ideation (BSSI), quality of life (SF-12), and symptom checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R)], have been collected in all of the patients who were referred to emergency departments affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences, during 6 months. Results: One hundred and forty one patients had been included. Mean age of the patients was 26.7 ± 11.2 (range 11 - 75) years; 54.6% of the patients were in the age-group of 21 - 40 years; females had more suicide attempts and 58.1% of the patients had low education level. The most common method for suicide was drug ingestion (92.9% of the patients). A significant correlation had been observed between quality of life and suicidal ideation (r = - 0.48; P < 0.0001). Depression and hostility had the highest mean score among SCL-90-R subscales. Conclusions: More frequent suicides in the second to fourth decades of life, especially in women and the persons who had lower quality of life suggests a need for proper social supports and psychiatric interventions for early detection of suicidal thoughts and necessary treatments for prevention of complete suicide.