Psychopathological and sociodemographic analysis of hospitalized patients for suicide attempt in a Chilean public hospital: An analytical cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a global public health problem. At the regional level, the analysis of the psychopathological and sociodemographic dimensions of suicide attempt (SA) are scarce. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to analyze psychopathological and sociodemographic characteristics of adults hospitalized for SA in a public hospital in Chile. We describe participants according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, appraising neuropsychiatric syndromes, personality disorders, and levels of hopelessness, impulsiveness, intentionality, lethality and aggressiveness of the SA. Non-parametric statistics were applied. Results: 45 participants were included, with a median of 39 years of age. The majority lived in urban areas, belonged to low socioeconomic status, were single, had some stressful life event and a history of SA. The most frequent SA method was drug intake. The most frequent diagnoses were alcohol use disorder and borderline personality. In half of the cases the hopelessness was low or inexistent. Lethality was positively and significantly correlated with suicidal intent, as was impulsivity with aggressiveness. Family history of SA and psychological trauma were significantly higher in women and chronic pain in men. Severe cases showed high levels of hopelessness, intentionality, and lethality, while impulsivity was significantly less than in non-severe cases. In this group, the most frequent diagnosis was depressive episode. Conclusions: The analyzed sample showed distinctive psychopathological and sociodemographic characteristics. The lethality and intent of the SA must be systematically appraised. The severe cases of SA showed particular psychopathological characteristics.