Citation

Eikelenboom M, Beekman ATF, Penninx BWJH, Smit JH. Psychol. Med. 2019; 49(6): 911-921.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry,the Amsterdam Public Health Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam/GGZ inGeest,Amsterdam,The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0033291718001423

PMID

29897037

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.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; follow-up; major depressive disorder; mood disorder; risk factor; suicide attempt