Citation

Marcinko D. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 99.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, Kispaticeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. darko.marcinko@zg.t-com.hr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964036

Abstract

Emerging literature suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients are at an increased risk for suicidal behavior. The purpose of our investigation was to examine the impact of psychiatric comorbidity among veterans suffering from chronic PTSD on suicidality (assessed by Suicidal Assesment Scale) and relationship to combat exposure (assessed by Combat Exposure Scale). Diagnosis of PTSD and comorbid psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed according to DSM-IV criteria. Patients with PTSD and comorbidity had the significantly higher scores (p<0.01) on the measures of suicidality and combate exposure, related to groups without psychiatric comorbidity. These findings suggest that persons with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity are at higher risk for suicidal behavior and that in assessing suicide risk among persons with PTSD, careful attention should be paid to comorbidity factors, which may reduce the risk of tragic complications.

Language: en