Depressive characteristics of adult psychiatric inpatients with a history of multiple versus one or no suicide attempts
Document Type
Article
Keywords
multiple attempter; suicidal ideation; depression; hopelessness
Disciplines
Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
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.
Article Number
1149
Publication Date
2009
Recommended Citation
Gibb, Brandon E.; Andover, Margaret S.; and Miller, Ivan W., "Depressive characteristics of adult psychiatric inpatients with a history of multiple versus one or no suicide attempts" (2009). Psychology Faculty Publications. 158.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/psych_facultypubs/158
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