Suicidality in Depressive Patients

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this research was to examine the frequency of the incidence of suicides in patients with depressive disorders that were hospitalized at the Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek during 2015 and 2016, and to determine whether there is a significant relationship between sociality and parameters measured in this research.

Methods: This research included 325 depressive patients hospitalized in the Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek during 2015 and 2016. Data were collected from  medical records of patients diagnosed with depressive disorders. To collect data, we used a questionnaire drafted for the purposes of this research with the following information: age, gender, employment status, marital status, qualifications, number of children, the existence of suicide attempts or repeated suicide attempts, the way in which the suicide was attempted, number of hospitalizations and treatment duration in years, number of suicide attempts, motive for attempted suicide, way of suicide attempt, psychiatric heredity, co morbidity.

Results: (36.6%) patients of the total number of 119 respondents (n=325) had suicidal behavior pattern in the past, significantly more in 2015 (Fisher’s exact test, P<0,001). At present the suicidal behavior pattern was present at 134 patients, significantly more in 2015 (Fisher’s exact test, P=0.04). 80 (24.6%) respondents attempted suicide. 33 (41.3%) of 80 (24.6%) respondents who attempted suicide were men and 47 (58.8%) women. The existence of psychiatric heredity or attempted suicide in the family does not affect the suicide attempt of the respondents.

Conclusion: Suicidal behavior patterns in depressive patients are common.

Key words: depressive disorders, suicidality, hospitalization