Clinical variables related to suicide attempts in schizophrenic patients: a retrospective study

In this study, we investigated the possible association between clinical or pharmacological variables and suicidal behavior in a sample of chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients. One hundred and three patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were studied. The sample was subdivided in two subsamples according to the presence/absence of suicidal attempts lifetime. The main demographic and clinical variables retrospectively collected were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Attempters had a significantly higher rate of nicotine abuse or dependence (chi-square = 3.900, df= 1, p < 0,05, Odds Ratio (O.R.) = 3.4), were more likely to have or have had lifetime major depressive episodes (chi-square= 10.258, df= 1, p < 0.002, OR. = 6.5), were more likely to have a duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) greater than or equal to 1 year (chi-square = 6,228, df= 1 p < 0.02, OR. = 12.5), and were more frequently prescribed typical antipsychotics (chi-square = 3.979. df= 1. p <0.05, OR. = 6.5) than patients without suicidal attempts lifetime. Further investigations on larger samples and with prospective designs are warranted, particularly with respect to the role of early intervention and atypical antipsychotic treatment in reducing suicide risk in schizophrenic patients. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.