Suicidal Tendencies Research Articles

“Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”

ABSTRACT Background The use of peer support workers to support suicidal adolescents is underdeveloped. This study focuses on the effects of a one-year intervention with peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent residing in a secure residential youth care facility in the Netherlands. Moreover, we explore the mechanisms that underpin the role of peer support workers in detail. Method This study employed a single case study design. We conducted seven semi-structured interviews with staff, peer support workers, and a chronically suicidal adolescent. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis. Results The results indicate that the suicidal tendencies of the adolescent decreased significantly one year after the peer support intervention compared to the initial baseline. Working mechanisms that underpinned the peer support intervention emphasized building meaningful and trust-based relationships, providing recognition and hope, and practical support from a recovery-oriented perspective. Conclusion The results suggest that peer support has a beneficial impact on the adolescent and treatment teams. Peer support workers contribute to a sense of belonging and connection, coping with suicidality, rediscovering life goals, and improving adolescent self-management. Barriers and facilitators to implementing peer support workers are also discussed.

The Intersection between Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites and Immune Inflammation, Hormones, and Gut Microbiota in Perinatal Depression.

Perinatal depression is a prevalent mental disorder among pregnant women, characterized by sleep disturbances, appetite changes, negative emotions, cognitive impairment, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. These symptoms severely compromise personal well-being, disrupt family life, and burden society. Early detection and intervention are thus crucial. The tryptophan-kynurenine (TRP-KYN) pathway is central to the inflammatory hypothesis of depression and has gained significant attention in perinatal depression research. This pathway encompasses numerous metabolic enzymes and neuroactive metabolites that interact with other physiological systems, influencing neurotransmitter synthesis and neuronal development. Through these interactions, the TRP-KYN pathway exerts psychotropic effects. This article reviews the key metabolites and enzymes of the TRP-KYN pathway and examines its intersection with immune inflammation, hormones, and gut microbiota.

CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE IMPACT ON ADULTHOOD

Introduction – Child sexual abuse (CSA) occurs when a kid or younger person is forced or persuaded to engage in sexual activity, whether the child is conscious of what is taking place. According to global databases, in one-third of countries in the world, at least 5% of young women reported experiences of sexual abuse in childhood. Mental health issues, behavioral manifestations, and interpersonal outcomes are a few impacts of CSA. This study aims to discuss the CSA's impact on adulthood. Methods – The researcher used a total of 13 works of literature, articles, and journals that discuss CSA and its correlation with some mental health issues impact on an adult. Results – Adults with a history of CSA are more likely to suffer from early onset depression, borderline personality disorder, and suicidal tendencies than someone without a history, that is why emotional support seems very important to the CSA survivors. Discuss – As children are sexually abused, it may lead to a variety of difficulties with relationships in general, as well as a host of poor intimate relationship consequences such as adult sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and reduced happiness in romantic relationships. Conclusion – Childhood sexual abuse is still a major problem among children and has several psychological impacts on adulthood, and emotional support is one of the great therapies. Keywords: childhood, sexual, abuse.

EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT CONTENT OF VIDEO-GAMES ON EVOLUTION OF AGGRESSIVE AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOURS

Background: Exposure to violent video games leads to aggressive and suicidal behaviours. The objective of this study was to compare violence exposure, degree of aggression and suicidal ideation between non-video gamers (NVGs), non-violent video gamers (NVVGs), and violent video gamers (VVGs), and to correlate degree of violence exposure to intensity of aggression and suicidal ideation. Methods: Thirty-six subjects were included in each of NVGs, NVVGs and VVGs groups. Exposure to violence was evaluated through Video Game Questionnaire (VGQ), degree of aggression via Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), and severity of suicidal ideation through Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). ANOVA, Post Hoc Tukey’s test, and Pearson’s correlation were used for data analysis. Results: Degree of violence exposure was significantly different between NVGs, NVVGs and VVGs (p=0.000), and so was intensity of physical-aggression, verbal-aggression, anger, hostility, and suicidal ideation (p=0.000 respectively). Degree of violence experienced by NVVGs and VVGs depicted a positive correlation with intensity of physical aggression [(r=0.467, p=0.004) and (r=0.546, p=0.001) respectively], verbal aggression [(r=0.401, p=0.015) and (r=0.476, p=0.003) respectively], anger [(r=0.564, p=0.000) and (r=0.485, p=0.003) respectively], hostility [(r=0.484, p=0.003) and (r=0.440, p=0.007) respectively] as well as suicidal ideation [(r=0.827, p=0.000) and (r=0.604, p=0.000) respectively] while physical-aggression, verbal-aggression, anger and hostility scores showed an independent positive correlation with suicidal likelihood in both NVVGs and VVGs [(r=0.451, p=0.006), (r=0.484, p=0.003), (r=0.480, p=0.003), (r=0.384, p=0.021), and (r=0.441, p=0.007), (r=0.442, p=0.007), (r=0.458, p=0.005), (r=0.491, p=0.002) respectively]. Conclusion: Exposure to violent video games creates aggression associated suicidal tendency. Pak J Physiol 2024;20(3):27?30, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v20i3.1550

Personal relationships during and after an initial psychotic episode. First-person experiences

Background Psychosis is often associated with loneliness, the absence of a confidant and a perceived lack of social support. In addition, the social isolation and solitude experienced can aggravate internalised stigma, depressive symptoms and/or suicidal tendencies, and worsen the course of the disorder. Aim This study explores the experiences and perceptions of persons with psychosis concerning how their interpersonal relationships have evolved from the earliest symptoms of the disorder to its subsequent clinical stabilisation. Method A qualitative content analysis was performed of the findings from five focus groups and six in-depth interviews (36 participants). Results In the prodrome and initial symptoms stage, five themes were coded: social withdrawal, loss of friends, loss of personal skills, communication difficulties and breakdown of life project. During the recovery phase, four themes were coded: family support, partner support, loneliness and the desire for more close relationships. Finally, during the clinical stabilisation phase, three themes were coded: the recovery of interpersonal relationships, including with peers; reconstruction of the life project and increased interpersonal sensitivity. Conclusions These findings highlight the impact that psychosis can have on social life and show that recovery is also related to the development of maeningful interpersonal relationships.

A REVIEW ON MACHINE LEARNING APPROACHES FOR THE DETECTION OF SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

With the increasing prevalence of mental health issues, particularly suicidal behaviors, the need for early and accurate detection has become critical. This paper explores the current landscape of machine learning approaches used for the detection of suicidal tendencies. It examines a wide range of machine learning techniques applied to various data sources, including social media, clinical records, psychological assessments, self-reported forms like PHQ-9, audio speech recordings, and multimodal data integrating speech and visual information. This comprehensive review aims to reveal the types of existing research based on these varied datasets, highlighting the nuances of data collection, significant features identified, and the results obtained by different studies. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges and limitations associated with these approaches, providing researchers and practitioners with valuable insights into the potential and pitfalls of machine learning applications in diagnosing individuals at risk of suicide. The goal is to inform future research and improve early detection methods to ultimately reduce suicide rates.

How do emotional intelligence, resilience, and parental employment affect anxiety and depression levels among Sudanese adolescents?

BackgroundAdolescents are often sensitive to emotions and vulnerable to psychiatric issues, including suicidal tendencies. Emotional intelligence is believed to play a significant role in resilience, which acts as a protective factor for mental well-being. The study investigated the level of emotional intelligence, resilience, depression, and anxiety in Sudanese adolescents and the relationship between these factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among four high schools and included a total of 392 adolescents who completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of the 30-item trait; Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire- short form (TEQ-SF), Brief Resilience Scale-6 (BRS-6) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).ResultsEmotional intelligence levels were moderate to high (M = 131.53 ± SD 22.16). While resilience levels were low to normal (M = 3.20 ± SD 0.51). Levels of anxiety were present in 89% of students while levels of depression were present in 78% of students and both were positively correlated (r = 0.540). Emotional intelligence and resilience were positively correlated (r = 0.272, p < 0.0005). Also, Resilience was positively correlated with levels of anxiety (r = 0.105) and the latter had a significant negative association with academic performance (r = − 0.102). Parents' status significantly contributed to predicting resilience levels (p-value = 0.011), with an unstandardized beta coefficient of 0.368. The mothers’ unemployment (r = − 0.100) and the father’s employment (r = 0.105) were significantly linked to lower anxiety levels.ConclusionThe high prevalence of anxiety and depression levels among Sudanese adolescents is influenced by parental separation and employment. Improving students' mental health is crucial as it is linked to enhancing their academic performance. This underscores the importance of addressing mental well-being alongside educational outcomes.

Quality of Life After Abdomioperineal Resection for Rectal Carcinoma

Background: Abdominoperineal resection (APR) has long been a standard treatment for rectal cancer, particularly for tumors located very distally or in patients with poor sphincter function. Despite the rise of sphincter-sparing techniques, APR remains essential in certain cases. This study aims to evaluate the impact of APR on the quality of life (QoL) in rectal cancer patients. Objective: To assess the quality of life in rectal cancer patients following APR, focusing on physical, psychological, sexual, and social functioning. Method: This prospective observational study was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College &amp; Hospital, Barisal, over six months (July-December 2015). Patients who underwent APR for rectal cancer and were at least three months post-surgery were included. QoL was evaluated based on patients' self-assessments across four dimensions: physical, psychological, sexual, and social functioning. Result: The study included patients with a mean age of 48 years (range: 23-75 years), with 40% being early middle-aged (31-40 years). Stoma-related issues were reported by 56% of patients, while 64% experienced odor problems. Psychological distress was prevalent, with 52% feeling discomfort, 44% experiencing depression or anxiety, and 12% reporting suicidal tendencies. Sexual dysfunction was significant, affecting 55% of men, with 83.8% completely impotent. Social functioning was compromised, with 42% reducing social activities. Overall, 24% of patients rated their QoL as poor, 14% as extremely poor, 26% as average, and 36% as good. Conclusion: Rectal cancer patients post-APR experience considerable limitations across all QoL dimensions, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to improve their overall well-being.

Relationship of Suicidal Tendencies and Drug Dependence: Analysis of Causes and Approaches to Prevention

The relevance of the article is due to the high mortality rate among drug addicts and the severe mental and social consequences of drugs. Understanding the causes and factors that contribute to suicidal behavior among drug addicts is key to developing effective prevention and rehabilitation programs. The author focuses on the alarming aspect of drug addiction — the high risk of suicidal tendencies among drug addicts. Drug addiction is often accompanied by severe mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These disorders, in turn, increase suicidal thoughts and behavior. In the article, the author provides a scientific review of existing research on the relationship between drug addiction and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Based on a study of international experience, the importance of family and community support in preventing suicide attempts is noted. Based on the results obtained, conclusions are formulated based on reviews of psychological, social and biological factors contributing to suicide risk among drug addicts, aimed at evaluating existing suicide prevention programs among drug addicts. The main provisions and conclusions can be used when studying the issue of preserving the institution of family, noting the importance of family and public support in preventing suicide attempts. Drug addiction poses one of the most serious threats to the health and well-being of society.

Validation of the personal suicide stigma questionnaire among adolescents with suicide attempts in mainland China.

The study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the personal suicide stigma questionnaire (PSSQ) into simplified Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties among adolescents who have attempted suicide in mainland China. Following Brislin's translation model and using purposive sampling, we surveyed 440 adolescents who had attempted suicide at Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. Content validity was determined by a panel of experts, and the construct validity of the scale was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Reliability analysis was evaluated using Cronbach's α coefficient, test-retest reliability, and half-split reliability. The Chinese version of the PSSQ consists of three dimensions and 14 items. After two rounds of expert consultation, the item-content validity index for all items exceeded 0.70, and the scale-content validity index exceeded 0.90. EFA extracted three factors and retained all 14 items. The CFA indicators demonstrated a good fit. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.880, the half-split reliability was 0.681, and the test-retest reliability was 0.862. It is evident that the PSSQ and its subscales demonstrate stable structural validity and good internal consistency in measuring self-stigma among individuals with suicidal tendencies, indicating that the PSSQ is a reliable tool for assessing the degree of personal stigma in Chinese adolescents who have attempted suicide. This study ensured the linguistic and cultural appropriateness of the Chinese version of the PSSQ through cross-cultural adaptation and validation of its reliability and validity, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of assessing personal stigma among Chinese adolescents who have attempted suicide. The validation of the Chinese version of the scale not only enriches the research tools available for studying personal stigma related to suicide in mainland China, but also provides a reliable quantitative tool for future research on the psychological states of individuals who have attempted suicide, the impact of stigma, and the effectiveness of interventions.

Alcohol abuse among adolescents and suicide risk - is there a correlation?

Introduction: Adolescent alcohol abuse is a critical public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individual development and societal well-being. Adolescent alcohol consumption poses significant health risks, particularly due to its effects on brain development and its association with increased suicide risk. Purpose of the work: This study aims to investigate the relationship between alcohol abuse and suicide risk in adolescents. Materials and methods: A comprehensive analysis of research papers available on PubMed and Google Scholar was undertaken using the search terms including the following keywords: alcohol abuse/ alcohol abuse in adolescence/ alcohol consumption in adolescence/ alcohol abuse and suicide risk in adolescence/ suicide risk factors in adolescence/ suicidal tendencies among teenagers. Conclusions:Adolescent alcohol abuse has profound implications for brain development and mental health, significantly increasing the risk of suicide. Effective public health strategies, including early intervention, education, and strong support systems, are essential to mitigate these risks and promote healthier environments for young individuals. Addressing the underlying causes of alcohol abuse and providing targeted support can reduce its long-term consequences and improve adolescent well-being.

"Undoubtedly a race, but they are not human": Immuno-politics and the Recognition of the Jew as Pathogenic Nonself in Art Spiegelman's Maus.

This article engages with the immuno-political juxtaposition of the healthy self and the pathogenic other to critically examine the representation of Nazis and Jews in Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus (1996). Written as a postmemory narrative, Maus recounts the horrors experienced by the author's father Vladek Spiegelman as a survivor of the Holocaust that claimed an approximate six million Jewish lives. Beginning with the years leading up to World War II, Spiegelman's novel reimagines the discrimination, dislocation, and dehumanization suffered by Vladek and his family at various prison camps in Nazi-occupied Poland before being transferred to Auschwitz. Deploying an immuno-political reading of Maus, this article investigates how the Third Reich undertook a systematic extermination of the Jewish race by construing them as immunological nonself or pathogenic others. It further argues that Nazism's fantasy of constructing a racially aseptic German identity by eradicating the Jews as vermin or parasites was reinforced by the late nineteenth-century eugenicist ideologies of racial hygiene. This article finally considers how policies of excessive immunization thatwasdeployed by Nazi biopolitics against the Jewish community, as well as exercised by the Jews to survive the Holocaust, eventually assumed the form of an autoimmune pathology that culminatedwith the attempted destruction of the entire medico-juridical infrastructure of the German Reich on the one hand and the fostering of suicidal tendencies by the Jewish survivors on the other.

The prevalence of 12-month suicidal ideation and associated factors among university students in China: Findings from a three-wave cross-sectional study from 2021 to 2023

BackgroundMany studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of suicidal tendencies among the public. However, there is limited research reporting on the changing trends in suicidal ideation after 2020 in the context of the long-term normalization of COVID-19 prevention and control measures in China. MethodsThe self-administered online questionnaire was adopted to collect 12-month suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, stress, and some demographic information from university students by convenient cluster sampling in Shandong, Shaanxi, and Jilin Provinces, China. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the association between different factors and suicidal ideation. ResultsThe prevalence of 12-month suicidal ideation from 2021 to 2023 among university students was 3.89 %, 5.81 %, and 4.33 %, respectively, showing a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The trends presented a similar tendency in the subgroups according to gender, majors, and grades, except among urban freshman-year students. The associated factors of suicidal ideation were different among university students in different surveys. However, female gender, poor mental health, and depressive symptoms were linked to a higher risk of suicidal ideation. LimitationsMore representative large-scale longitudinal studies should be used to monitor the suicidal behavior of university students. ConclusionsThe prevalence of 12-month suicidal ideation among Chinese university students exhibited a pattern of initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease from 2021 to 2023. Despite the complete lifting of COVID-19 prevention and control measures in China, the prolonged three-year epidemic may have enduring adverse effects on university students, underscoring the ongoing importance of providing continuous mental health services to this population.

The Effect of Cognitive Therapy on Psychosis Clients with Suicide Risk: Literature Review

Psychosis is a mental or psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, chaotic behavior, and accompanied by poor insight. A systematic review and meta-analysis study showed that individuals with a diagnosis of psychosis have a high prevalence of suicide. One of the psychotherapies given to psychosis clients with suicide risk is cognitive therapy (CT). Objective: To determine the effect of cognitive therapy (CT) on psychosis clients with suicide risk Articles discussed in this literature review were obtained through article searches in electronic journal databases, namely Science Direct, ProQuest, Wiley Online Library, EBSCOhost, Sage Journals, and ClinicalKey. The inclusion criteria of this journal review were human studies, English, and free fulltext. The results showed that CT in clients at risk of suicide has a significant effect in reducing suicide risk through mechanisms to correct thought distortions and build positive thoughts and beliefs to produce adaptive coping mechanisms. This study has implications for the importance of applying cognitive therapy as part of psychotherapeutic interventions for clients with psychosis who are at risk of suicide. This therapy not only helps reduce symptoms associated with psychosis, but also plays a role in reducing suicidal tendencies by correcting maladaptive thoughts and beliefs.

Myths about suicide - validating the Hungarian version of the Literacy of Suicide Scale (H-LOSS) on a community sample

BackgroundSuicide was exceptionally high in Hungary in the last century. According to Eurostat, Hungary ranks second in the EU in death by suicide and was among the few countries where the suicidal tendencies increased in 2020. Primary tasks of suicide prevention programs are to develop suicide literacy and dispel myths and misconceptions about suicide. Therefore, the goal of our research was the Hungarian validation of the 26-item Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS). Methods: 749 people (382 female (51.0%), 364 male (48.6%), 3 identify as non-binary or other (0.4%); 4 identifying as transgender (0.5%)) participated in our online cross-sectional survey with a mean age of 32.4 years (SD = 14.5 years). The H-LOSS questionnaire was adapted using the 2PL (two-parameter logistic) model with WLSE (weighted least squares) estimation in item response theory method, similarly to the original English version.ResultsScale unidimensionality was confirmed. Model fit indices and internal reliability indicators were acceptable. Item infit and outfit values were adequate, item discrimination values were within range, but one item had extremely high and three items had extremely low item difficulty parameters. Few items had differential item functioning by age, gender and own suidice attempt.ConclusionsThe H-LOSS scale deemed to be appropriate for assessing suicide literacy in Hungarian speaking samples.

Frontal Activity of Recent Suicide Attempters: EEG spectrum Power Performing Raven Task.

Background: Deficits in problem-solving may be related to vulnerability to suicidal behavior. We aimed to identify the electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectrum associated with the performance of the Raven as a reasoning/problem-solving task among individuals with recent suicide attempts. Methods: This study with the case-control method, consisted of 61 participants who were assigned to three groups: Suicide attempt + Major Depressive Disorder (SA + MDD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Healthy Control (HC). All participants underwent clinical evaluations and problem-solving abilities. Subsequently, EEG signals were recorded while performing the Raven task. Results: The SA + MDD and MDD groups were significantly different from the HC group in terms of anxiety, reasons for life, and hopelessness. Regarding brain oscillations in performing the raven task, increased theta, gamma, and betha power extending over the frontal areas, including anterior prefrontal cortex, dlPFC, pre-SMA, inferior frontal cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex, was significant in SA + MDD compared with other groups. The alpha wave was more prominent in the left frontal, particularly in dlPFC in SA + MDD. Compared to the MDD group, the SA + MDD group had a shorter reaction time, while their response accuracy did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Suicidal patients have more frontal activity in planning and executive function than the two other groups. Nevertheless, it seems that reduced activity in the left frontal region, which plays a crucial role in managing emotional distress, can contribute to suicidal tendencies among vulnerable individuals. Limitation The small sample size and chosen difficult trials for the Raven task were the most limitations of the study.

Suicidal ideation detection on social media using machine learning: A review

Suicide remains a critical global health issue, with over 800,000 deaths annually and profound impacts on individuals and their communities. The increasing role of social media platforms in expressing personal struggles has highlighted the potential of these platforms for early detection of suicidal tendencies. Advances in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) have revolutionized this detection process, allowing for more accurate identification of suicidal ideation in social media posts. This review examines the integration of machine learning algorithms in suicide detection, including the use of multi-layered neural networks for analyzing textual, audio, and visual data. It explores various machine learning models and their performance in predicting suicide attempts, with a focus on their accuracy, precision, and recall. The review also discusses applications such as real-time monitoring systems and emergency response mechanisms, emphasizing how these technologies can enhance early intervention and support. By surveying current research and identifying challenges and future directions, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how machine learning can significantly contribute to suicide prevention efforts through effective social media monitoring.

Prevalence and Impacts of Body Shaming on Social Media among University Students in Bangladesh

Body shaming is a social disease that has spread to different segments of society. It has been constantly growing in the hands of the media, especially social media and the commercial world. Objective: The objectives of the study are to examine the prevalence and impacts of social media on body shaming faced by university students in Bangladesh. Methodology: This study followed the quantitative research methodology to conduct the research. It was from 08 June 2024 to 14 June 2024, when the researcher collected the data through an online survey consisting of 35 questions. A total of 477 students participated in the study; the target population was formed with part of the students at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur. Results: The study found that 66.45% of the students were faced with body shaming, and 42.76% of these happened through social media. Female students reported a higher prevalence of body shaming (37.11%) than that of male students (29.14%), with an odds ratio of 1.493, indicating that females were almost 1.5 times more likely to experience body shaming. Most of the students were body shamed for their body shape and weight. Students perceive that bullying tendency, lack of understanding, jealousy, and low self-confidence are the major causes of body shaming. According to the research, the impacts of body shaming are multifaceted in most of the students; with issues such as emotional distress (47.59%), body anxiety or dissatisfaction (40.25%), depression and inferiority (39.62%) coming up as a high rate of result. Alarmingly, 10.27% of students reported noticing suicidal tendencies in themselves due to body shaming. Female students generally reported higher rates of negative impacts compared to male students across most categories. Conclusion: There is an urgent requirement for awareness campaigns and legal actions to be taken against body shaming on social media. Educational institutions should also implement awareness programs for the younger generation to make them aware of the negative consequences of body shaming.

Influence of Parenting Styles on Suicidal Tendencies in High School Students

Influence of Parenting Styles on Suicidal Tendencies in High School Students

Major Depressive Disorder with Catatonia: A Phenotype Related to Autistic Traits and High Suicidality.

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) represents a significant global health concern, often complicated by comorbidities such as catatonia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recognizing the interplay among these conditions and their impact on suicidal tendencies is crucial for effective clinical management. Methods: A total sample of 147 subjects with MDD was divided into Significant Catatonia (SC) and Non-Significant Catatonia (NSC) groups based on Catatonia Spectrum (CS) scores. Participants were evaluated through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, Research Version (SCID-5-RV), the Adult Autism Subtreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum), and the Mood Spectrum-Self Report questionnaires. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, logistic regression analyses, and a decision tree model. Results: The SC group exhibited higher CS, AdAS Spectrum, and MOODS-SR total and domain scores compared to the NSC group. Individuals with significant autistic traits were over-represented in the SC group, as well as participants with higher suicidality, suicidal ideation, and a history of suicide attempts. The total AdAS Spectrum and MOOD-SR score, the AdAS domain "Hyper-hypo reactivity to sensory input", and the "Cognitive depressive" MOOD-SR domain were predictive of belonging to the SC group. Suicidality levels appeared to be higher in clinically significant ASD, intermediate in subjects with autistic traits (AT), and low in the absence of AT. Conclusions: the study suggests the existence of a specific phenotype of MDD associated with catatonia, characterized by elevated autistic traits and suicide risk.