An examination of suicidal intent in patients with multiple sclerosis
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Abstract
Objective: To examine neurologic and psychiatric correlates of suicidal intent in a community sample of 140 patients with MS.
Methods: Patients with (28.6%) and without lifetime suicidal intent were compared across MS disease–related and psychiatric variables. All subjects were interviewed with 1) the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis 1 disorders (SCID-IV) to determine lifetime prevalence of major depression and anxiety disorders; and 2) the Social Stress and Support Interview to assess psychological stressors. Suicidal intent was documented with questions from the SCID-IV and Beck Suicide Scale. Patients also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and cognitive testing.
Results: Suicidal patients were significantly more likely to live alone, have a family history of mental illness, report more social stress, and have lifetime diagnoses of major depression, anxiety disorder, comorbid depression–anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder. By logistic regression analysis, the severity of major depression, alcohol abuse, and living alone had an 85% predictive accuracy for suicidal intent. A third of suicidal patients had not received psychological help. Two-thirds of subjects with current major depression, all suicidal, had not received antidepressant medication.
Conclusions: Suicidal intent, a potential harbinger for suicide, is common in MS and is strongly associated with major depression, alcohol abuse, and social isolation. Suicidal intent is a potentially treatable cause of morbidity and mortality in MS.
- Received December 20, 2001.
- Accepted June 20, 2002.
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