Depressed Suicide Attempters with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
| |
| Authors: | Maria Ramberg Barbara Stanley Mette Ystgaard Lars Mehlum |
| |
| Institution: | 1. National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norwaymaria.ramberg@medisin.uio;3. National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway;4. Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, USA;5. Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, Norway |
| |
| Abstract: | Posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder are well-established risk factors for suicidal behavior. This study compared depressed suicide attempters with and without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder with respect to additional diagnoses, global functioning, depressive symptoms, substance abuse, history of traumatic exposure, and suicidal behavior. Adult patients consecutively admitted to a general hospital after a suicide attempt were interviewed and assessed for DSM-IV diagnosis and clinical correlates. Sixty-four patients (71%) were diagnosed with depression; of them, 21 patients (32%) had posttraumatic stress disorder. There were no group differences in social adjustment, depressive symptoms, or suicidal intent. However, the group with comorbid depression and posttraumatic stress disorder had more additional Axis I diagnoses, a higher degree of childhood trauma exposure, and more often reported previous suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-harm, and vengeful suicidal motives. These findings underline the clinical importance of diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in suicide attempters. |
| |
| Keywords: | attempt comorbidity depression hospital admission PTSD suicide |
|
|
