Suicide Screening Should Not Be Limited to Those With Psychiatric History
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Feb. 22, 2024 -- Nearly one in five who attempt suicide do so without meeting criteria for an antecedent psychiatric disorder, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues used data from 1,948 U.S. adults with lifetime suicide attempts from a nationally representative population-based survey to determine what percentage of people who attempt suicide meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder.
The researchers found that 6.2 percent had no apparent lifetime psychiatric diagnoses when surveyed, while 13.4 percent made their first suicide attempt prior to psychiatric disorder onset. There were no significant age or sex differences noted in the percentage of those with lifetime suicide attempts absent psychiatric disorders. However, women were more likely than men to attempt suicide in the year of psychiatric disorder onset (14.9 versus 8.6 percent). Attempts were less frequent among those ≥50 to 65 years (3.9 percent versus 6.1 percent for those aged 35 to 50 years and 6.2 percent for those aged 20 to <35 years).
"This finding challenges clinical notions of who is at risk for suicidal behavior and raises questions about the safety of limiting suicide risk screening to psychiatric populations," the authors write.
One author disclosed financial ties to MindMed, Sage Therapeutics, and Alkermes.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2024
Read this next
Mortality Risk Up for Cancer Survivors With Elevated Loneliness
MONDAY, May 6, 2024 -- Cancer survivors with elevated loneliness have a higher mortality risk, according to a study published online April 25 in the Journal of the National...
Pediatric ED Length of Stay Reduced With Observation Unit for Mental Health
MONDAY, May 6, 2024 -- Children with mental health emergencies presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED) who receive psychiatric comanagement in a pediatric...
Relationship With Therapist Predicts Outcomes of Psychedelic Therapy
FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- A strong relationship between the therapist and participant is associated with long-term outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapy, according to a study...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.