Citation

Mkrtchyan AG, Hovsepyan AA. New Armenian Med. J. 2015; 9(4): 56-60.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Yerevan State Medical University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The article dwells on the influence of auditory pseudohallucinations on suicidal ideation of the patients with schizophrenia. The auditory pseudohallucinations are the most common and clinically significant symptoms of schizophrenia. According to researchers' reports, the auditory pseudohallucinations are among the main factors leading to suicide in schizophrenia. The impact of the auditory pseudohallucinations was investigated on the level of suicidal ideation and the frequency of suicide attempts in patients hospitalized with schizophrenia in the present research. Seventy nine inpatient schizophrenic patients were involved in the study with diagnosis matching ICD10 criteria. The patients were subjected to clinical examination as well as were assessed by the following questionnaires: The Positive and the Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression at Schizophrenia Scale (CDSS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rate Scale (MADRS). The origin of hallucinations: imperative, threatening, accusing, commenting, antagonistic etc., was clarified based on clinical interview. The highest correlation (correlation coefficient - 0.36) with the severity of suicidal ideation and tendencies, assessed with the scale CDSS, has item 3 (hallucinations) of positive symptoms subscale of PANSS. Also statistically significant correlation with the severity of hallucinations was found during the assessment of the same symptoms with MADRS scale (correlation coefficient - 0.29). In addition to hallucinations, a relatively weak, but significant correlation can be traced between suicidal ideas and intensity of delusions. The 8th point of CDSS scale and 10th point of MADRS scale, as items that describe suicidal behavior, are the only ones that correlate with the third item (hallucinations) on the scale of PANSS. Mutual reliability in the assessment of suicidal ideation and actions with the help of two different questionnaires is confirmed by very high coefficient of correlation between points of suicide assessment in both. The levels of suicidal ideation were significantly higher (about 6 times) in patients with imperative hallucinations compared to those who experienced other types of auditory hallucinations. Majority of the patients who attempted suicide had imperative hallucinations despite the total number of patients who had imperative hallucinations, which was less than a half of all selection. Practically all patients who attempted suicide had imperative hallucinations and didn't share it with anyone. Therefore, auditory pseudohallucinations, from all positive symptoms observed in schizophrenia, have the greatest impact on the level of suicidal thoughts and actions. Hallucinations' character has the most important effect on suicidal ideation. © 2015, Yerevan State Medical University. All Rights Reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Depression; Suicide; female; male; Schizophrenia; suicidal ideation; schizophrenia; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; disease severity; major clinical study; rating scale; delusion; auditory hallucination; Article; mental disease assessment; Calgary Depression at Schizophrenia Scale; Imperative hallucinations; Montgomery Asberg Depression Rate Scale; Positive and the Negative Symptoms Scale; Pseudohallucinations