Psychosocial correlates of suicidal intent among patients with schizophrenia

Suicidal intent is common among patients with schizophrenia, resulting in e xtreme personal distress, increased hospitalizations and healthcare expendi tures, and early mortality. However, the psychosocial correlates of current suicidality among schizophrenic patients are not fully understood. This st udy attempted to identify psychosocial correlates of current suicidal inten t in a sample of 267 patients with schizophrenia. Multiple regression analy ses were used to assess the relationship between suicidality and current sy mptomatology, psychosocial problems, global functioning, and demographic ch aracteristics. Results showed that depressive symptomatology as a single va riable accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in ratings of suicid al intent. In addition, female gender, younger age, recent traumatic stress , and less severe psychotic symptoms each significantly predicted current s uicidality independent of depressive symptoms. The combination of depressio n among younger female schizophrenic patients whose psychotic symptoms have abated and who are experiencing current traumatic stress may indicate extr eme suicidal intent. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B, Saunders Company.