Clinical factors affecting suicidal behaviours in selected mental disorders

Abstract

Suicidal behaviours associated with mental disorders have been thesubject of investigation for many years. Suicide is a serious social andmedical problem. The World Health Organization estimates that it is thethird most common cause of death in people aged 15-44. Suicide is acomplex process influenced by multiple factors, both interconnected andindependent from one another. This paper discusses clinical factors thatcan occur in certain mental disorders, usually identified with suicidalbehaviours. Mental disorders that cause a high suicidal risk include:depression, personality disorders, alcohol addiction and paranoidschizophrenia. The search for the factors conductive to suicidaldecisions in patients with these disorders is highly significant. Thestudies and observations of patients at risk of suicide indicate certaincommon characteristic signs and behaviours, irrespective of the mentaldisorder. In light of the studies conducted, it is believed that thefollowing factors have a significant influence on suicidal behaviours inpatients with the above-mentioned mental disorders: history of suicideattempts, impulsiveness and aggression, persistent insomnia, chronicdepression and sub-depression as well as psychotic symptoms (persecutoryand/or depressive delusions, imperative hallucinations). The risk ofsuicide can be reduced considerably by skilful diagnostic management andappropriate assessment of clinical factors.