Study on Correlation between Psychotic Symptoms and Suicide in a Cohort of Patients with Severe Depression

Abstract

Background: Suicide has a strong association with mental disorder and contributes to the excess mortality of the mentally ill. Suicidal ideation is prevalent and appears to be a precondition for suicide attempts among psychiatric patients with Major Depressive disorder. Though ideas and attempts may overlap there are studies that show the two are separate clinical entities with unique psycho-socio demographic profile. Aim: To study the correlation of psychotic symptoms with suicidal ideation and with suicidal attempt. Methodology: Cross sectional study of patients consecutively admitted with major depressive disorder. Severity of suicidal ideations and attempts were rated on validated scales and the sociodemographic and clinical correlates were analyzed. Results: There were more suicide attempts in patients without psychotic symptoms than those with psychotic symptoms with various levels of severity. Conclusion: There was no correlation between severity of psychotic symptoms and suicidal attempt in the sample.