Coping and suicide risk in high risk psychiatric patients

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: A dysfunctional use of coping strategies has repeatedly been linked to suicidal behaviour in non-psychiatric populations. However, data regarding association between coping strategies and suicidal behaviour in psychiatric populations are limited.<i>Aims</i>: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible relationship between self-reported suicide risk, suicidal ideation and coping strategies in three psychiatric cohorts.<i>Method</i>: Three cohorts of psychiatric patients were involved in the study; recent suicide attempters (<i>n</i> = 55), suicide attempters at follow-up 12 years after a suicide attempt (<i>n</i> = 38) and patients with ongoing depression without attempted suicide (<i>n</i> = 72). Patients filled in the self-rating version of The Suicide Assessment Scale (SUAS-S) from which items no. 17-20 addressing current suicidal ideation were extracted. To investigate coping strategies, the Coping Orientation of Problem Experience Inventory (COPE) was used.<i>Results</i>: In all cohorts, regression analyses showed that only avoidant coping was significantly correlated with the scores of SUAS-S adjusted for covariates. The items no. 17-20 correlated significantly to avoidant coping but not with other coping strategies in all cohorts.<i>Conclusion</i>: The results of this study indicate that among coping strategies only avoidant coping may be associated with suicide risk in psychiatric patients independently of history of attempted suicide.