Current suicidality and previous suicidal attempts in patients with schizophrenia are associated with different dimensions of temperament and character

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Branka Aukst Margetić
• Author: Miro Jakovljević
• Author: Dragutin Ivanec
• Author: Darko Marčinko
• Author: Branimir Margetić
• Author: Nenad Jakšić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences

Abstract (english)

Suicide is a major public health problem and the leading cause of premature death in patients with schizophrenia. Information about the patient's personality is helpful for assessing the risk of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. The sample consisted of 120 outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 29 of whom had previously attempted suicide. We used the Temperament and Character Inventory to assess personality differences between patients who had previously attempted and had not previously attempted suicide and between patients who had and did not have current suicidal ideation. Current suicidal ideation was assessed using the four-point severity scale, which is item nine from the Beck Depression Inventory. The character dimension Self-transcendence was shown by logistic regression to be a predictor of lifetime suicide attempts. Low Self-directedness was shown to be a predictor of current suicidal ideation. To prevent suicidal behaviour, it is important to better understand the personality traits associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Suicide attempts and suicidal ideation in schizophrenia may not represent the same phenomenon ranging on a single continuum. The importance of these results suggests that further study is needed.

• Keywords (english): Adult; Character; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Personality Inventory; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics; Schizophrenic Psychology; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted / psychology; Temperament
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Accepted version
• Journal title: Psychiatry Research
• Numbering: vol. 200, no. 2-3, pp. 120-125
• p-ISSN: 0165-1781
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.04.016
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:954679
• Publication: 2012-12-30
• Document URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.04.016
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-27 19:42:39