Risk factors for suicidality among clients with schizophrenia

Among clients with schizophrenia, suicidality is associated with extreme pe rsonal distress, an increased number of inpatient hospitalizations, increas ed health care expenditures, and early mortality. This study attempted to i dentify risk factors for current suicidality in clients diagnosed with schi zophrenia (N = 223). Results indicated that severity of depressive symptoms most strongly correlated with degree of suicidality. Younger age and recen t traumatic stress each significantly predicted suicidality independent of depressive symptoms. Stepwise regression procedures showed that the combina tion of depression, younger age, and traumatic stress might provide a gener al prediction model for suicidality among clients diagnosed with schizophre nia. Counseling implications of these findings are outlined.