Comparisons of clinical features of female recurrent major depression patients with and without suicidal ideation

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical features of female recurrent major depression(MD) patients with and without suicidal ideation. Methods 301 female recurrent major depression patients were interviewed by specially trained interviewers using computer evaluation system and divided into suicidal ideation group and non-suicidal ideation group according to suicidal ideation. The comparisons between the two groups were investigated on items of demographic, clinical data, assessment of psychopathology, Eysenck neuroticism questionnaire, stressful life events. Results 66.4% of MD patients have suicidal ideation. Compared with non-suicidal ideation group, there were more total number of MD symptoms (8.58±0.77, OR=2.476, P=1.154×10-9) and melancholia symptoms (6.74±1.07, OR=1.546, P=0.001) and it was more common in the factors of less appetite (OR=2.201, P=0.011), lose weight (OR=2.030, P=0.004), early morning awakening (OR=1.774, P=0.045), worthless (OR=2.352, P=0.014), impaired decision-making (OR=2.044, P=0.018), hopelessness (OR=7.130, P=6.651×10-9), helpless (OR=2.046, P=0.049) in suicidal ideation group. Also in suicidal ideation group the scores of neuroticism dimension (OR=1.631, P=0.024) were higher, and they were more suffered from stressful life events (OR=1.302, P=0.008). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that total number of MD symptoms (OR=4.840, P=1.154×10-8), stressful life events (OR=1.392, P=0.014) and hopelessness (OR=3.528, P=0.008) were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusion Specific clinical features are associated with suicidal ideation among female patients of recurrent depression disorder. Hopelessness, stressful life events are risk factors of suicide ideation in female recurrent major depression patients. Integrated clinical assessment should be taken for recurrent major depression patients with suicidal ideation. Key words: Recurrent major depression; Suicidal ideation; Female; Clinical feature