Factors predicting suicidal ideation in the preceding 12 months among patients attending a community psychiatric outpatient clinic

Background. Predictive factors are used to alert the clinician to the necessity of carrying out a suicide risk assessment in those patients whose demographic and clinical characteristics suggest the possibility of suicide. Aim. To identify demographic and clinical variables that could predict suicidal ideation in psychiatric outpatients. Methods. 150 consecutive return patients attending a psychiatric outpatient clinic were approached and requested to complete a clinician-administered semi-structured questionnaire designed to assess the aims of the study. The questionnaire comprised 18 questions most of which had either a checklist of possible answers or a yes/no answer. Data was analysed with descriptive statistics, univariate analysis and logistic regression using SPSS version 17. Results. Of the 150 patients approached with written information, 133 consented to take part in the study giving a response rate of 88.7%. The mean age was 40.6 years (s.d = 12.7). On univariate analysis, there was a statistically significant relationship (P < 0.05) between three of the predictor variables (age, marital status and history of self-harm) and the likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation in the preceding 12 months. However, with all other factors controlled for, only two of the independent variables (history of self-harm and no history of psychiatric inpatient treatment) significantly predicted suicidal ideation in the previous 12 months with odds ratios of 5.409 and 2.836 respectively. Conclusion. Amongst variables studied, having a history of self-harm or no previous history of psychiatric inpatient treatment was the best predictor of suicidal ideation in the preceding year in a population of patients attending a psychiatric outpatient review clinic.