TY - JOUR PY - 2015// TI - Feelings of worthlessness during a single complicated major depressive episode predict postremission suicide attempt JO - Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica A1 - Wakefield, J. C. A1 - Schmitz, M. F. SP - 257 EP - 265 VL - 133 IS - 4 N2 - OBJECTIVE: To establish which symptoms of major depressive episode (MDE) predict postremission suicide attempts in complicated single-episode cases.

METHOD: Using the nationally representative two-wave National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions data set, we identified wave 1 lifetime single-episode MDE cases in which the episode remitted by the beginning of the wave 2 three-year follow-up period (N = 2791). The analytic sample was further limited to 'complicated' cases (N = 1872) known to have elevated suicide attempt rates, defined as having two or more of the following: suicidal ideation, marked role impairment, feeling worthless, psychomotor retardation, and prolonged (>6 months) duration.

RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses showed that, after controlling for wave 1 suicide attempt which significantly predicted postremission suicide attempt (OR = 10.0), the additional complicated symptom 'feelings of worthlessness' during the wave 1 index episode significantly and very substantially predicted postremission suicide attempt (OR = 6.96). Neither wave 1 psychomotor retardation nor wave 1 suicidal ideation nor any of the other wave 1 depressive symptoms were significant predictors of wave 2 suicide attempt.

CONCLUSION: Among depressive symptoms during an MDE, feelings of worthlessness is the only significant indicator of elevated risk of suicide attempt after the episode has remitted, beyond previous suicide attempts.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0001-690X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acps.12521 ID - ref1 ER -