Citation

Zucca M, Rubino E, Vacca A, Govone F, Gai A, De Martino P, Boschi S, Gentile S, Giordana MT, Rainero I. Am. J. Alzheimers Dis. Other Demen. 2019; 34(4): 265-271.

Affiliation

Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini," Aging Brain and Memory Clinic, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1533317518817609

PMID

30558441

Abstract

AIM:: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), evaluating possible risk factors for suicidality.

METHODS:: Risk of suicide was assessed using the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) in 35 patients with bvFTD and 25 controls.

RESULTS:: According to SSI, 40% of patients with bvFTD had suicidal ideation in comparison to 8% of controls ( P =.009). Four patients with bvFTD have attempted suicide versus none control ( P =.006). Patients with bvFTD with suicide risk showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and hopelessness than patients without suicide risk ( P <.001). Patients who attempted suicide were younger and had a longer disease duration than those with only suicide ideation. Intriguingly, 40% of patients with parkinsonism presented high level of suicide ideation.

CONCLUSIONS:: Our findings show that patients with bvFTD have a high risk of suicide. Additional studies in larger populations are needed to confirm our results.

Language: en

Keywords

FTD; SSI; bvFTD; frontotemporal dementia; parkinsonism; suicide