Clinical and personality profile of depressed suicide attempters: A preliminary study at the open-door policy Mood Disorder Unit of San Raffaele Hospital

Abstract

Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon with high rates among psychiatric inpatients. Mood disorders and personality dysfunctions represent relevant risk factors for suicides attempts and suicidal ideation. Our study aims to investigate the role of the co-occurrence of clinical variables (duration of depressive state, previous suicide attempts), socio-demographic variables (gender, employment and civil status) and narcissistic personality features in the suicide risk of admitted psychiatric patients affected by a mood disorder. The sample was composed of 93 patients consecutively admitted in an open ward psychiatric Unit. Forty-eight participants had a positive history of previous suicide attempts: the suicide attempters (SA) were mostly female, unemployed and married. The SA group were observed to have suffered from a depressive episode with a longer duration; moreover in the SA group, the presence of active suicidal ideation was significantly related to a higher number of previous suicide attempts. In the whole sample, suicidal ideation was significantly related to narcissistic vulnerability personality features. Using a multidimensional approach, the present study allows a preliminary profiling of patients at risk for suicidal behavior during hospitalization.