Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are a major concern in people with psychotic disorders. There is a need to examine their prevalence over long-term follow-up after first-episode psychosis (FEP) and determine their early predictors.

Of 510 participants with FEP evaluated on 26 risk factors for later outcomes, 260 were reassessed after 21 years of follow-up for lifetime ratings of most severe suicidal ideation, number of suicide attempts, and lethality of the most severe attempt. Risk factors and STB outcomes were modeled using hierarchical linear regression analysis.

Over the 21-year follow-up period, 62.7% of participants experienced suicidal thoughts, 40.8% attempted suicide, and 18 died of suicide (3.5% case fatality and 20.6% proportionate mortality). Suicidal ideation was independently predicted by parental socioeconomic status, familial load of major depression, neurodevelopmental delay, poor adolescence social networks, and suicidal thoughts/behavior at FEP. The number of suicide attempts was independently predicted by years of follow-up, familial load of major depression, obstetric complications, childhood adversity, and suicidal thoughts/behavior at FEP. Lethality was independently predicted by familial load of major depression, obstetric complications, neurodevelopmental delay, and poor adolescence social networks. The proportion of variance in suicidal ideation, attempts, and lethality explained by the independent predictors was 29.3%, 21.2%, and 18.1%, respectively.

STBs are highly prevalent in psychotic disorders and leads to substantial morbidity and mortality. They were predicted by a number of early risk factors, whose clinical recognition should contribute to improved prediction and prevention in people with psychotic disorders.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a debilitating condition characterized by pervasive instability across multiple major domains of functioning. The majority of persons with BPD engage in self-injury and up to 10% die by suicide – rendering persons with this condition at exceptionally elevated risk of comorbidity and premature mortality. Better characterization of clinical risk factors among persons with BPD who die by suicide is urgently needed.

We examined patterns of medical and psychiatric diagnoses (1580 to 1700 Phecodes) among persons with BPD who died by suicide (n = 379) via a large suicide death data resource and biobank. In phenotype-based phenome-wide association tests, we compared these individuals to three other groups: (1) persons who died by suicide without a history of BPD (n = 9468), (2) persons still living with a history of BPD diagnosis (n = 280), and (3) persons who died by suicide with a different personality disorder (other PD n = 589).

Multivariable logistic regression models revealed that persons with BPD who died by suicide were more likely to present with co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses, and have a documented history of self-harm in the medical system prior to death, relative to suicides without BPD. Posttraumatic stress disorder was more elevated among those with BPD who died by suicide relative to the other PD group.

We found significant differences among persons with BPD who died by suicide and all other comparison groups. Such differences may be clinically informative for identifying high-risk subtypes and providing targeted intervention approaches.

Many autistic people in mental health are suicidal. This study evaluated the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) v. treatment as usual (TAU) in reducing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

At six Dutch mental health centers, 123 outpatients (18–65 years) with DSM-5 diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and suicidal behavior were randomly assigned to the DBT intervention group (n = 63) or TAU control group (n = 60). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment at 6 months and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcomes were severity of suicidal ideation and frequency of suicide attempts. The severity of depression and social anxiety were secondary outcomes.

At end-of-treatment, DBT significantly reduced both suicidal ideation (z = −2.24; p = 0.025; b = −4.41; s.e. = 197.0) and suicide attempts (z = −3.15; p = 0.002; IRR = 0.046; s.e. = 0.045) compared to TAU, but lost statistical significance at the 12-month follow-up. Depression severity significantly decreased with DBT (z = −1.99; p = 0.046: b = −2.74; s.e. = 1.37) remaining so at 12 months (z = −2.46; p = 0.014; b = −3.37; s.e. = 1.37). No effects were observed on social anxiety. Severe adverse events included two suicides in the TAU condition.

DBT is an acceptable, safe, and short-term effective intervention to reduce suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in autistic adults with suicidal behavior.

Research on suicide rarely focuses on protective factors. The goal of this systematic review was to assess the evidence of the associations between protective factors and reduced suicidality among older adults.

First, a scoping review was conducted to identify pertinent terms that refer to various protective factors against suicidality. A systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines, was then conducted on a selection of 15 protective factors (e.g., perceived control, well-being and quality of life, life satisfaction, purpose-in-life, resilience, coping, religiosity, hope, self-regulation, sense of belonging, mattering, positive relationship, social support, social connectedness, and social participation), with separate searches performed on each factor in five databases. Empirical studies were eligible if participants were adults aged 60 years and over, and if the studies reported predictive statistical analysis.

A total of 70 studies were retained for the review. Suicidal ideation was the main outcome measure (91%). Significant associations were consistently observed between all protective factors and reduced suicidal ideations or behaviors, particularly for purpose-in-life, resilience, and positive relationships, indicating that these are solid components for suicide prevention. Using scales, instead of a single item, to measure protective factors (e.g. life satisfaction) was more efficient to capture the associations. On the other hand, results were similar whether studies used subjective (e.g., sense of belonging) or objective (e.g., social connectedness) measures.

Protective factors were inversely associated with suicidal ideation. Improving protective factors is essential for the development of late-life suicide prevention and interventions, instead of merely focusing on risk factors.

To examine predictors of suicidal behavior (SB) in adults aged 75 years and above with dementia.

Longitudinal national register-based study.

Swedish residents aged ≥75 years with dementia identified in the Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem) between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2017 (N = 59 042) and followed until 31 December 2018. Data were linked with numerous national registers using personal identity numbers.

Outcomes were nonfatal self-harm and suicide. Fine and Gray regression models were used to investigate demographics, comorbidities, and psychoactive medications associated with fatal and nonfatal SB.

Suicidal behavior was observed in 160 persons after dementia diagnosis; 29 of these died by suicide. Adjusted sub-hazard ratio (aSHRs) for SB was increased in those who had a previous episode of self-harm (aSHR = 14.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.06–29.46), those with serious depression (aSHR = 4.33, 95%CI = 2.94–6.4), and in those born outside Sweden (aSHR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.03–2.27). Use of hypnotics or anxiolytics was also associated with a higher risk of SB; use of antidepressants was not. Milder dementia and higher frailty score also increased risk of SB. Risk was decreased in those who received home care (aSHR = 0.52; 95%CI = 0.38–0.71) and in the oldest group (aSHR = 0.35; 95%CI = 0.25–0.49).

In addition to established targets for suicidal behavior prevention (improved identification and treatment of depression and previous self-harm), several new risk factors were suggested. There is a need for innovative public health strategies to meet the needs of older dementia patients with a foreign background. Home care may have a potential positive effect to prevent SB in people with dementia, but this needs to be further explored.

Inflammatory biomarkers are reportedly increased in depressed patients. Several studies have been conducted using neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR). The objective of this systematic review was to study the relationship between these peripheral biomarkers and suicidality in depressed patients with/without suicidal behavior, including suicide attempts and ideation, and healthy controls.

We searched the following relevant terms in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases published in the last 5 years. We assessed the methodological quality of included studies using the Oxford criteria and reviewed the evidence following PRISMA guidelines.

Eleven studies were retained for the data synthesis, with a total sample of 1,701 participants, of which the majority (819) were patients with depression and suicidal behavior, 494 were depressed patients without suicidal behavior, and only 388 were healthy participants. Our results reinforce the idea that NLR could be an attractive, convenient, and cost-effective trait marker of suicidal vulnerability in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Future large-scale replication studies are needed to examine the apparently understudied role of PLR and MLR in depressed patients in greater depth.

Understanding risk factors related to suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behaviors (SB) in youth is important for informing prevention and intervention efforts. While it appears that psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are strongly associated with both SI and SB at different points across the lifespan, the longitudinal nature of this relationship in middle childhood and early adolescence is understudied.

The study used the unique longitudinal Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study data. Mixed effects linear models examined associations between PLEs and SI and SB over time using three time points of data from ages 9–13.

First, analyses indicated that endorsement of SI and SB increased as youth grew older for those with increased distressing PLEs. Analyses found evidence of bidirectional relationships between PLEs with SI and SB, with evidence that PLEs at baseline were associated with worsening SI and SB over time, including a transition from SI to SB (β = 0.032, FDRp = 0.002). Exploratory analyses showed consistent evidence for strengthened associations over time for higher delusional ideation with both SI and SB (βs > 0.04, FDRps < 0.001), and for perceptual distortions with SB (βs = 0.046, FDRp < 0.001). When accounting for general psychopathology, for SB, the strengthened associations over time was significantly stronger for PLEs (β = 0.053, FDRp < 0.001) compared to general psychopathology (β = 0.022, FDRp = 0.01).

The present study indicates both SI and SB show strengthened associations with PLEs over time, and that baseline PLEs may predict worsening of suicidality over time. The findings are important clarifications about the nature of the associations between youth-reported PLEs and suicidality over time.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was recently (in 2015) associated with suicidal risk, regardless of depression or other mental disorders, but it is a disorder with great heterogeneity, and the subtypes involved in this risk have not yet been clarified.

To verify which patterns of OCD symptoms are more associated with suicidal risk, other possible risk factors and better treatment options evidenced in the literature.

Literature review with predefined search criteria and keywords in electronic databases (Pubmed, Virtual Health Library and Cochrane) between 2015 and 2020. Identification, analysis, calculation and synthesis of the results were carried out in a descriptive and qualitative manner.

Twenty five articles were included. Obsessions of unacceptable thoughts pattern, perfectionism traits and alexithymia are important predictors of suicidal risk. Compulsions were not associated with suicide. Depression is the comorbidity with the greatest impact on suicidal ideation. Better socioeconomic status, education, and female gender are protective factors for mortality. The method chosen for attempts is preferably non-violent (drug intoxication). Treatments derived from cognitive behavioral therapy are currently being investigated further, and in addition to the evidence for the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics have been used as an adjuvant.

Unacceptable thoughts play an important role in suicide resulting from OCD, and the absence of compulsive behavior may be correlated to suicide risk. Treatment directed at cognitions seems relevant. Further studies are needed to clarify the appropriate approach in this subtype of the disease.

No significant relationships.

Several initiatives within psychiatric nursing targets Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in DK, but none targets the new phenomenon Digital Self-harm. Digital self-harm involves the use of Social media (SoMe) to harm oneself for example by communicating condescending content about and to oneself through fake profiles, seeking out conflicts to be humiliated, and consciously get others to say vicious things about themselves. Further, images are exchanged showing wounds, broken extremities, etc. and thoughts and feelings are exchanged about suicidal actions as well as methods for both self-harm and suicide actions. We do not know enough about what constitutes the problem nor do we know how to address neither the behavior nor their consequences. Due to conflicting results, more research is needed to understand how media affects NSSI as well as suicidal behavior.

The overall objective of this study is to map, at a national level, how SoMe is used as part of NSSI and suicidal behavior and get insight as to what constitutes the behavior and how we address it through three sub-studies.

The study will be carried out as a mixed method study and includes a systematic review (Study 1), a qualitative part, which will be examined through interviews (Study 2), and finally a quantitative part that will be conducted through questionnaires (Study 3).

The project is ongoing.

Prospects of this study are that the project will create clarity about the essence of the phenomenon of digital self-harm, how NSSI and suicidal behavior is affected and generate enough knowledge to develop interventions aiming digital self-harming and suicidal behavior.

No significant relationships.

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with acute suicidal ideation or behavior (MDSI) require immediate intervention. Though oral antidepressants can be effective at reducing depressive symptoms, they can take 4–6 weeks to reach full effect.

This study aimed to identify unmet needs in the treatment of patients with MDSI, specifically exploring the potential clinical benefits of rapid reduction of depressive symptoms.

A Delphi panel consisting of practicing psychiatrists (n=12) from the US, Canada and EU was conducted between December 2020–June 2021. Panelists were screened to ensure they had sufficient experience with managing patients with MDD and MDSI. Panelists completed two survey rounds, and a virtual consensus meeting.

This research confirmed current unmet needs in the treatment of patients with MDSI.

Hopelessness, functional impairment, worsening of MDD symptoms, recurrent hospitalization and higher risk of suicide attempt were considered as key consequences of the slow onset of action of oral antidepressants.

Treatment with rapid acting antidepressant was anticipated by panelists to provide short-term benefit such as rapid reduction of core MDD symptoms which may contribute to shorter hospital stays and improved patient engagement/compliance, allowing for earlier interventions and improved patient outcomes. For long-term benefits, panelists agreed that improved daily functioning and increased trust/confidence in treatment options, constitute key benefits of rapid-acting treatments

There is need for rapid-acting treatments which may help address key unmet needs and provide clinically meaningful benefits driven by the rapid relief of depressive symptoms particularly in patients with MDSI.

SB, ED, KJ, MO’H, QZ, MM, MH, SR, JA and DZ are employees of Janssen and hold stock in Johnson & Johnson Inc. AN is currently employed by Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. RP is an employee of Adelphi Values PROVE hired by Janssen.

No significant relationships.

Nowdays there are different strategies for the treatment of smoking cessation. The treatment include drugs such as varenicline, which acts as a high-affinity partial agonist for the alpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype (nACh). We report a case of a suicidal behaviour in a 39 year-old woman with no previous history of mental illness, who was brought to the emergency department after intentional intoxication with benzodiazepines. The patient was on 10th day of treatment with varenicline.

To present a case of sucidal behavior that developed in a 39 year-old woman after starting varenicline. Review of literature and total number of cases reported in the european database of suspected adverse drug reactions (EudraVigilance).

We carried out a literature review in Pubmed electing those articles focused on mental disorders in those patients that have been taking varenicline. Review number of cases suicidal behavior reported by the European database of suspected adverse drug reactions.

A 39-year-old female was brought to the emergency department after voluntary ingestion of Lorazepam 1mg (40 tablets) in a sucide attempt. The family reported the starting of thoughts of suicide after 1 week of treatment. No previous history of mental disorders. The patient reported low mood and drowsiness in the last 5 days not linked to any cause. After 5 days of discontinuation these mood symptoms and sucidal behavior remited.

Varenicline is associated with different neuropsychiatric sypmtoms. In patients with or without history of mental disorders we should warn about the symptoms for discontinuation of the treatment.

No significant relationships.

Despite the significant psychosocial morbidity associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD), its underrecognition is a significant clinical problem. BPD is likely underdiagnosed, in part, because patients with BPD usually present with chief complaints associated with mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. When patients with BPD do not exhibit self-harm behavior, we suspect that BPD is less likely to recognized. An important question is whether the absence of this criterion, which might attenuate the likelihood of recognizing and diagnosing the disorder, identifies a subgroup of patients with BPD who are ‘less borderline’ than patients with BPD who do not manifest this criterion.

Psychiatric outpatients were evaluated with a semi-structured diagnostic interview for DSM-IV BPD, 390 of whom were diagnosed with BPD. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with BPD who do and do not engage in repeated suicidal and self-harm behavior.

Approximately half of the patients with BPD did not meet the suicidality/self-injury diagnostic criterion for the disorder. There were no differences between the patients who did and did not meet this criterion in occupational impairment, likelihood of receiving disability payments, impairment in social functioning, level of educational achievement, comorbid psychiatric disorders, history of childhood trauma, or severity of depression, anxiety, or anger upon presentation for treatment.

Repeated self-injurious and suicidal behavior is not synonymous with BPD. It is critical for clinicians to be aware that the absence of repeated self-injury and suicide threats/gestures or attempts does not rule out the diagnosis of BPD.

Near-term risk factors for suicidal behavior, referred to as ‘warning signs’ (WS), distinguish periods of acute heightened risk from periods of lower risk within an individual. No prior published study has examined, using a controlled study design, a broad set of hypothesized WS for suicide attempt. This study addressed this gap through examination of hypothesized behavioral/experiential, cognitive, and affective WS among patients recently hospitalized following a suicide attempt.

Participants were recruited during hospitalization from five medical centers across the USA including two civilian hospitals and three Veterans Health Administration facilities (n = 349). A within-person case-crossover study design was used, where each patient served as her/his own control. WS were measured by the Timeline Follow-back for Suicide Attempts Interview and were operationalized as factors that were present (v. absent) or that increased in frequency/intensity within an individual during the 6 h preceding the suicide attempt (case period) compared to the corresponding 6 h on the day before (control period).

Select WS were associated with near-term risk for suicide attempt including suicide-related communications, preparing personal affairs, drinking alcohol, experiencing a negative interpersonal event, and increases in key affective (e.g. emptiness) and cognitive (e.g. burdensomeness) responses.

The identification of WS for suicidal behavior can enhance risk recognition efforts by medical providers, patients, their families, and other stakeholders that can serve to inform acute risk management decisions.