Suicide Risk in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Case Report

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions. It affects about 2.5% of people throughout their life and usually emerges in infancy/adolescence or early adulthood. Despite high levels of suffering and disability, high comorbidity rates, and low treatment response rates, suicidal behavior associated with this disorder was traditionally considered a rare phenomenon. However, recent studies recognize a significant risk of suicidal behavior in obsessive-compulsive patients. As a result, we describe a clinical case of attempted suicide in an obsessive-compulsive patient and discuss risk factors that have been considered predictive of suicide in OCD.