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Prevalence and Associated Factors for Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Albina Rodrigues Torres ,
Ana Teresa de Abreu Ramos-Cerqueira ,
Ricardo Cezar Torresan ,
Mariana de Souza Domingues ,
Ana Carolina R. Hercos  and
Aron Barbosa C. Guimarães
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Abstract

Introduction

Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have historically been considered at low risk for suicide, but recent studies are controversial.

Objective

To study the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in OCD patients and to compare those with and without suicidality according to demographic and clinical variables.

Methods

Fifty outpatients with primary OCD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) from a Brazilian public university were evaluated. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to assess OCD severity, the Beck Depression Inventory to evaluate depressive symptoms and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test to assess alcohol problems.

Results

All patients had obsessions and compulsions, 64% a chronic fluctuating course and 62% a minimum Y-BOCS score of 16. Half of the patients presented relevant depressive symptoms, but only three had a history of alcohol problems. Seventy percent reported having already thought that life was not worth living, 56% had wished to be dead, 46% had suicidal ideation, 20% had made suicidal plans, and 10% had already attempted suicide. Current suicidal ideation occurred in 14% of the sample and was significantly associated with a Y-BOCS score ≥16. Previous suicidal thoughts were associated with a Beck Depression Inventory score ≥19.

Conclusion

Suicidality has been underestimated in OCD and should be investigated in every patient, so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken.

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 12 , Issue 10 , October 2007 , pp. 771 - 778
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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