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{{See also|Suicide prevention}}
{{See also|Suicide prevention}}


Early detection and treatment are the best ways to prevent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. If signs, symptoms, or risk factors are detected early then the individual will hopefully seek treatment and help before attempting to take their own life. In a study of individuals who did commit suicide, 91% of them likely suffered from one or more mental illnesses. However, only 35% of those individuals were treated or being treated for a mental illness.<ref name= "Cavanagh, Owens & Johnstone">Cavanagh, J. O., Owens, D. C., & Johnstone, E. C. (1999). Life events in suicide and undetermined death in south-east Scotland: a case-control study using the method of psychological autopsy. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34(12), 645-650.</ref> This emphasizes the importance of early detection; if a mental illness is detected, it can be treated and controlled to help prevent suicide attempts. Another study investigated strictly suicidal ideation in adolescents. This study found that depression symptoms in adolescents as early as grade 9 is a predictor or suicidal ideation. In agreement with the study conducted by Cavanagh, Dugas, et al. found that most people with long-term suicidal ideation do not seek professional help.
Early detection and treatment are the best ways to prevent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. If signs, symptoms, or risk factors are detected early then the individual will hopefully seek treatment and help before attempting to take their own life. In a study of individuals who did commit suicide, 91% of them likely suffered from one or more mental illnesses. However, only 35% of those individuals were treated or being treated for a mental illness.<ref name= "Cavanagh, Owens & Johnstone">Cavanagh, J. O., Owens, D. C., & Johnstone, E. C. (1999). Life events in suicide and undetermined death in south-east Scotland: a case-control study using the method of psychological autopsy. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34(12), 645-650.</ref> This emphasizes the importance of early detection; if a mental illness is detected, it can be treated and controlled to help prevent suicide attempts. Another study investigated strictly suicidal ideation in adolescents. This study found that depression symptoms in adolescents as early as grade 9 is a predictor of suicidal ideation. In agreement with the study conducted by Cavanagh, Dugas, et al. found that most people with long-term suicidal ideation do not seek professional help.


The previously mentioned studies point out the difficulty that mental health professionals have in motivating individuals to seek and continue treatment. Ways to increase the amount of individuals who seek treatment may include:
The previously mentioned studies point out the difficulty that mental health professionals have in motivating individuals to seek and continue treatment. Ways to increase the amount of individuals who seek treatment may include:

Revision as of 00:50, 13 November 2013

Suicidal ideation
SpecialtyClinical psychology Edit this on Wikidata

Suicidal ideation is a medical term for thoughts about or an unusual preoccupation with suicide. The range of suicidal ideation varies greatly from fleeting to detailed planning, role playing, and unsuccessful attempts, which may be deliberately constructed to fail or be discovered, or may be fully intended to result in death. Although most people who undergo suicidal ideation do not go on to make suicide attempts, a significant proportion do.[1] Suicidal ideation is generally associated with depression; however, it seems to have associations with many other psychiatric disorders, life events, and family events, all of which may increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Currently, there are a number of different treatment options for those experiencing suicidal ideation.

Signs and symptoms

Suicidal ideation has a straightforward definition — suicidal thoughts — but there are some other related signs and symptoms. Some symptoms or co-morbid conditions may include unintentional weight loss, feeling helpless, feeling alone, excessive fatigue, low self-esteem, presence of consistent mania, excessively talkative, intent on previously dormant goals, feel like one's mind is racing.[2] The onset of symptoms like these with an inability to get rid of or cope with their effects, a possible form of psychological inflexibility, is one possible trait associated with suicidal ideation.[3] They may also cause psychological distress, which is another symptom associated with suicidal ideation.[4] Symptoms like these related with psychological inflexibility, recurring patterns, or psychological distress may in some cases lead to the onset of suicidal ideation. Other possible symptoms and warning signs include:

Scales

  • Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation
  • Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
  • The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)
    • This test does not measure suicidal ideation directly, but there may be value in its administration as an early identifier of suicidal ideation. High scores of psychological distress are in some cases associated with suicidal ideation.[4]

Risk factors

See also: Suicide § Risk factors

There are numerous indicators that one can look for when trying to detect suicidal ideation. There are also situations in which the risk for suicidal ideation may be heightened. The risk factors for suicidal ideation can be divided into 3 categories: psychiatric disorders, life events, and family history.

Psychiatric disorders

There are several psychiatric disorders that appear to be comorbid with suicidal ideation or considerably increase the risk of suicidal ideation.[5] The following list includes the disorders that have been shown to be the strongest predictors of suicidal ideation. It should be noted, however, that these are not the only disorders that can increase risk of suicidal ideation. The disorders in which risk is increased the greatest include:[6]

Prescription drug side effects

Some prescription drugs, such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, can have suicidal ideation as a side effect. Moreover, these drugs' intended effects can themselves have the unintended or undesired consequence of an increased individual risk and collective rate of suicidal behavior: Among the set of persons taking the medication, a subset feel bad enough to want to commit suicide (or to desire the perceived results of suicide) but are inhibited by depression-induced symptoms, such as lack of energy and motivation, from following through with an attempt. Among this subset, a "sub-subset" may find that the medication alleviates their physiological symptoms (such as lack of energy) and secondary psychological symptoms (e.g., lack of motivation) before or at lower doses than it alleviates their primary psychological symptom of depressed mood. Among this group of persons, the desire for suicide and/or its effects persists even as major obstacles to suicidal action are removed, with the effect that the incidences of suicide attempt and of completed suicide increase.[citation needed]

Life events

Life events are strong predictors of increased risk for suicidal ideation. Furthermore, life events can also lead to or be comorbid with the previous listed psychiatric disorders and predict suicidal ideation through those means. Life events that adults and children face can be dissimilar and for this reason, the list of events that increase risk can vary in adults and children. The life events that have been shown to increase risk the greatest are[9]

  • Alcohol abuse
    • Studies have shown that individuals who binge drink, rather than drink socially, tend to have higher rates of suicidal ideation[10]
    • Certain studies associate those who experience suicidal ideation with higher alcohol consumption[3]
    • Certain studies associate those who experience suicidal ideation with unemployment[3]
    • Not only do some studies show that solitary binge drinking can increase suicidal ideation, but there is a positive feedback relationship causing those who have more suicidal ideation to have more drinks per day in a solitary environment[10]
  • Loss of family and/or friends
  • Other studies have found that tobacco use is correlated with depression and suicidal ideation[11]
  • Unplanned pregnancy
  • Bullying, including cyberbullying[12][13]
  • Previous suicide attempts
    • Having previously attempted suicide is one of the strongest indicators of future suicidal ideation or suicide attempts[10]
  • Military experience
    • Military personnel who show symptoms of PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder show higher levels of suicidal ideation[14]
  • Community violence[15]
  • Undesired changes in body weight[16]
    • Women: increased BMI increases chance of suicidal ideation
    • Men: severe decrease in BMI increases chance of suicidal ideation
      • In general, the obese population has increased odds of suicidal ideation in relation to individuals that are of average-weight
  • Exposure and attention to suicide related images or words[17]

Family history

  • Parents with a history of depression
    • Valenstein et al. studied 340 adult offspring whose parents had depression in the past. They found that 7% of the offspring had suicidal ideation in the previous month alone
  • Abuse[15]
    • Childhood: physical abuse
    • Adolescence: physical and sexual abuse
  • Family violence
  • Childhood residential instability
    • Certain studies associate those who experience suicidal ideation with family disruption.[3]

Relationships with parents and friends

According to a study conducted by Ruth X. Liu of San Diego State University, a significant connection was found between the parent–child relationships of adolescents ranging from early, middle and late adolescence and their likelihood of suicidal ideation. The study consisted of measuring relationships between mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, mothers and sons and fathers and daughters. The relationships between fathers and sons during early and middle adolescence shows an inverse relationship to suicidal ideation. Closeness with the father in late adolescence is "significantly related to suicidal ideation".[18] Liu goes on to explain the relationship found between closeness with the opposite sex parent and the child's risk of suicidal thoughts. It was found that boys are better protected from suicidal ideation if they are close to their mothers through early and late adolescence; whereas girls are better protected by having a close relationship with their father during middle adolescence.

An article published in 2010 by Zappulla and Pace found that suicidal ideation in adolescent boys is exacerbated by detachment from the parents when depression is already present in the child. Lifetime prevalence estimates of suicidal ideation among nonclinical populations of adolescents generally range from 60% and in many cases its severity increases the risk of completed suicide.[19]

Prevention

See also: Suicide prevention

Early detection and treatment are the best ways to prevent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. If signs, symptoms, or risk factors are detected early then the individual will hopefully seek treatment and help before attempting to take their own life. In a study of individuals who did commit suicide, 91% of them likely suffered from one or more mental illnesses. However, only 35% of those individuals were treated or being treated for a mental illness.[20] This emphasizes the importance of early detection; if a mental illness is detected, it can be treated and controlled to help prevent suicide attempts. Another study investigated strictly suicidal ideation in adolescents. This study found that depression symptoms in adolescents as early as grade 9 is a predictor of suicidal ideation. In agreement with the study conducted by Cavanagh, Dugas, et al. found that most people with long-term suicidal ideation do not seek professional help.

The previously mentioned studies point out the difficulty that mental health professionals have in motivating individuals to seek and continue treatment. Ways to increase the amount of individuals who seek treatment may include:

  • Increasing the availability of therapy treatment in early stage
  • Increasing the public’s knowledge on when psychiatric help may be beneficial to them
    • Those who have adverse life conditions seem to have just as much risk of suicide as those with mental illness[20]

A study conducted by researchers in Australia set out to determine a course of early detection for suicidal ideation in teens stating that "risks associated with suicidality require an immediate focus on diminishing self-harming cognitions so as to ensure safety before attending to the underlying etiology of the behavior". A Psychological Distress scale known as the K10 was administered monthly to a random sample of individuals. According to the results among the 9.9% of individuals who reported "psychological distress (all categories)" 5.1% of the same participants reported suicidal ideation. Participants who scored "very high" on the Psychological Distress scale "were 77 times more likely to report suicidal ideation than those in the low category".[4]

In a 1-year study conducted in Finland, 41% of the patients who later committed suicide saw a health care professional, most seeing a psychiatrist. Of those, only 22% discussed suicidal intent on their last office visit. In most of the cases, the office visit took place within a week of the suicide, and most of the victims had a diagnosed depressive disorder.[21]

There are many centers where one can receive aid in the fight against suicidal ideation and suicide. Hemelrijk et al. (2012) found evidence that assisting people with suicidal ideation via the internet versus more direct forms such as phone conversations has a greater effect.

Treatment

Treatment of suicidal ideation can be puzzling due to the fact that several medications have actually been linked to increasing or causing suicidal ideation in patients. Therefore, several alternative means of treating suicidal ideation are often used. The main treatments include: hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and medication/other modalities.[22]

Hospitalization

Hospitalization allows the patient to be in a secure, supervised environment to prevent their suicidal ideation from turning into suicide attempts. In most cases, individuals have the freedom to choose which treatment they see fit for themselves. However, there are several circumstances in which individuals can be hospitalized involuntarily. These circumstances are:

  1. If an individual poses danger to self or others
  2. If an individual is unable to care for one's self

Hospitalization may also be the best treatment if an individual:

  • Has access to lethal means
  • Does not have social support or people to supervise them
  • Has a suicide plan
  • Has symptoms of a psychiatric disorder

Outpatient treatment

Outpatient treatment allows individuals to remain at their place of residence and receive treatment when needed or on a scheduled basis. Before allowing patients the freedom that comes with outpatient treatment, physicians evaluate several factors of the patient. These factors include the patient's level of social support, impulse control and quality of judgment. After the patient passes the evaluation, they are often asked to consent to a "no-harm contract". This is a contract formulated by the physician and the family of the patient. Within the contract, the patient agrees not to harm themselves, to continue their visits with the physician, and to contact the physician in times of need.[22] These patients are then checked on routinely to assure they are maintaining their contract and staying out of troublesome activities.

Medication

Prescribing medication to treat suicidal ideation can be difficult. One reason for this is because many medications lift patients' energy levels before lifting their mood. This puts them at greater risk of following through with attempting suicide. Additionally, if a patient has a co-morbid psychiatric disorder, it may be difficult to find a medication that addresses both the psychiatric disorder and suicidal ideation. Therefore, the medication prescribed to one suicidal ideation patient may be completely different than the medication prescribed to another patient. However, there are several medications that seem to work fairly well for treating suicidal ideation:[22]

Antidepressants have been shown to be a very effective means of treating suicidal ideation. One correlational study compared mortality rates due to suicide to the use of SSRI antidepressants within certain counties. The counties which had higher SSRI use had a significantly lower amount of deaths caused by suicide.[23] Additionally, an experimental study followed depressed patients for one year. During the first six months of that year, the patients were examined for suicidal behavior including suicidal ideation. The patients were then prescribed antidepressants for the six months following the first six observatory months. During the six months of treatment, experimenters found suicide ideation reduced from 47% of patients down to 14% of patients.[24] Thus, it appears from current research that antidepressants have a helpful effect on the reduction of suicidal ideation.

Although research is largely in favor of the use of antidepressants for the treatment of suicidal ideation, in some cases antidepressants are claimed to be the cause of suicidal ideation. Upon the start of using antidepressants, many clinicians will note that sometimes the sudden onset of suicidal ideation may accompany treatment. This has caused the food and drug administration to issue a warning stating that sometimes the use of antidepressants may actually increase the thoughts of suicidal ideation.[23] Medical studies have found antidepressants help treat cases of suicidal ideation and work especially well with psychological therapy.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gliatto, Michael F. (1999). "Evaluation and Treatment of Patients with Suicidal Ideation". American Family Physician. 59 (6): 1500–6. PMID 10193592. Retrieved 2007-01-08. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
  3. ^ a b c d Valenstein, H., Cronkite, R. C., Moos, R. H., Snipes, C., & Timko, C. (2012). Suicidal ideation in adult offspring of depressed and matched control parents: Childhood and concurrent predictors. Journal Of Mental Health, 21(5), 459-468. doi:10.3109/09638237.2012.694504
  4. ^ a b c Chamberlain, Peter (2009). "Suicidal Ideation: The Clinical Utility of the K10". Crisis. 1. 30 (1): 39–42. doi:10.1027/0221-5910.30.1.39. PMID 19261567. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Hemelrijk, E., Van Ballegooijen, W., Donker, T., Van Straten, A., & Kerkhof, A. (2012). Internet-based screening for suicidal ideation in common mental disorders. Crisis: The Journal Of Crisis Intervention And Suicide Prevention, 33(4), 215-221. doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a000142
  6. ^ Harris, E.C. & Barraclough, B. (1997). Suicide as an outcome for mental disorders. A meta analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 170, 205-228.
  7. ^ Lemon TI, Shah R D. Needle exchanges – a forgotten outpost in suicide and self-harm prevention Journal of Psychosomatic Research (2013) 74:6 p551-552.DOI 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.03.057,
  8. ^ Lemon TI. Suicidal ideation in drug users could be reduced by further training of drug centre workers Asian Journal Psych Med (2013) DOI 10.1016/j.ajp.2013.07.003
  9. ^ Fergusson, D.M. , Woodward, L.J., & Horwood, L.J. (2000). Risk factors and life processes associated with the onset of suicidal behavior during adolescence and early adulthood. Psychological Medicine, 30, 23-39.
  10. ^ a b c Gonzalez, V.M. (2012). Association of solitary binge drinking and suicidal behavior among emerging adult college students. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 26(3), 609-614. doi:10.1037/a0026916
  11. ^ Dugas, E., Low, N. P., Rodriguez, D., Burrows, S., Contreras, G., Chaiton, M., & O'Loughlin, J. (2012). Early Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Young Adults. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(7), 429-436.
  12. ^ "Cyberbullying Research Summary - Cyberbullying and Suicide" (PDF). Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  13. ^ "The relationship between bullying, depression and suicidal thoughts/behaviour in Irish adolescents". Department of Health and Children. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  14. ^ Richardson, J.D., St Cyr K.C., McIntyre-Smith, A.M., Haslam, D., Elhai, J.D., & Sareen, J. (2012). Examining the association between psychiatric illness and suicidal ideation in a sample of treatment-seeking Canadian peacekeeping and combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD. Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 57(8), 496-504.
  15. ^ a b Thompson, R., Litrownik, A.J., Isbell, P., Everson, M.D., English, D.J., Dubowitz, H., Proctor, L.J. & Flaherty, E.G. (2012). Adverse experiences and suicidal ideation in adolescence: Exploring the link using the LONGSCAN samples. Psychology of Violence, 2(2), 211-225.
  16. ^ Carpenter, K.M., Hasin, D.S., Allison, D.B., & Faith, M.S. (2000). Relationships between obesity and DSM-IV major depressive disorder, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts: Results from a general population study. American Journal of Public Health, 90(2), 251-257.
  17. ^ Cha, C. B., Najmi, S., Park, J. M., Finn, C. T., & Nock, M. K. (2010). Attentional bias toward suicide-related stimuli predicts suicidal behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119(3), 616-622. doi:10.1037/a0019710
  18. ^ Liu, Ruth X. (2005). "Parent-Youth Closeness and Youth's Suicidal Ideation; The Moderating Effects of Gender, Stages of Adolescence, and Race or Ethnicity". Youth & Society. 37 (2): 160–162. doi:10.1177/0044118X04272290. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  19. ^ Zappulla, Carla. "Relations between suicidal ideation, depression, and emotional autonomy from parents in adolescence". Springer Science + Business Media LLC. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  20. ^ a b Cavanagh, J. O., Owens, D. C., & Johnstone, E. C. (1999). Life events in suicide and undetermined death in south-east Scotland: a case-control study using the method of psychological autopsy. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34(12), 645-650.
  21. ^ Halgin, Richard P. (2006). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. Boston: McGraw-Hill. pp. 267–272. ISBN 0-07-322872-9. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b c Gliatto, M.F. & Rai, A.K. (1999). Evaluation and treatment of patients with suicidal ideation. American Family Physician, 59, 1500-1513.
  23. ^ a b Simon, G. E. (2006) How can we know whether antidepressants increase suicide risk? American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(11), 1861-1863. doi:10.1176/appu.ajp.163.11.1861
  24. ^ Mulder, R. T. (2008). Antidepressant treatmeant is associated with a reduction in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 118(12), 116-122. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01179.x
  25. ^ Zisook S., Lesser I.M., Lebowitz B., Rush A.J., Kallenberg G., Wisniewski S.R., Nierenberg A.A., Fava M., Luther J.F., Morris D.W. & Trivedi, M.H. (2011). Effect of antidepressant medication treatment on suicidal ideation and behavior in a randomized trial: An exploratory report from the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes Study. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 72(10), 1322-1332.

Further reading

  • Beck, AT (1985). "Hopelessness and eventual suicide: a 10-year prospective study of patients hospitalized with suicidal ideation". Am J Psychiatry. 142 (5): 559–563. PMID 3985195. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Uncapher, H (2000–2001). "Cognitive biases and suicidal ideation in elderly psychiatric inpatients". Omega. 42 (1): 21–36.
  • Uncapher, H (1998). "Hopelessness and suicidal ideation in older adults". The Gerontologist. 38 (1): 62–70. doi:10.1093/geront/38.1.62. PMID 9499654. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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