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A 6-year longitudinal study of predictors for suicide attempts in major depressive disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2018

Merijn Eikelenboom ,
Aartjan T. F. Beekman ,
Brenda W. J. H. Penninx  and
Johannes H. Smit
Merijn Eikelenboom*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, the Amsterdam Public Health Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Aartjan T. F. Beekman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, the Amsterdam Public Health Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Brenda W. J. H. Penninx
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, the Amsterdam Public Health Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Johannes H. Smit
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, the Amsterdam Public Health Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
Author for correspondence: Merijn Eikelenboom, E-mail: m.eikelenboom@ggzingeest.nl
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Abstract

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD), represent a major source of risk for suicidality. However, knowledge about risk factors for future suicide attempts (SAs) within MDD is limited. The present longitudinal study examined a wide range of putative non-clinical risk factors (demographic, social, lifestyle, personality) and clinical risk factors (depressive and suicidal indicators) for future SAs among persons with MDD. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between a number of significant predictors and the incidence of a future SA.

Methods

Data are from 1713 persons (18–65 years) with a lifetime MDD at the baseline measurement of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety who were subsequently followed up 2, 4 and 6 years. SAs were assessed in the face-to-face measurements. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to examine a wide range of possible non-clinical and clinical predictors for subsequent SAs during 6-year follow-up.

Results

Over a period of 6 years, 3.4% of the respondents attempted suicide. Younger age, lower education, unemployment, insomnia, antidepressant use, a previous SA and current suicidal thoughts independently predicted a future SA. The number of significant risk factors (ranging from 0 to 7) linearly predicted the incidence of future SAs: in those with 0 predictors the SA incidence was 0%, which increased to 32% incidence in those with 6+ predictors.

Conclusion

Of the non-clinical factors, particularly socio-economic factors predicted a SA independently. Furthermore, preexisting suicidal ideation and insomnia appear to be important clinical risk factors for subsequent SA that are open to preventative intervention.

Keywords

Depressionfollow-upmajor depressive disordermood disorderrisk factorsuicide attempt
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 49 , Issue 6 , April 2019 , pp. 911 - 921
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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