Suicide ideation and first episode psychosis in Hong Kong

Abstract

Patients with psychosis comprise a high-risk group in terms of suicide behaviors especially in the early phases. Suicide ideation on the other hand acts as the starting point along the chain of suicide. However less is known about suicide ideation among patients at their first-episode psychosis (FEP).

Present study investigated contributing factors in suicidal ideation among FEP patients in Hong Kong. FEP outpatients (N=20) and normal controls (N=20) were invited to complete a set of self-assessment questionnaires. These questionnaires measured a wide range of potential risk factors including hopelessness, impulsiveness, reasons for living, insight, drug-attitude and treatment satisfaction.

Results showed that patients have a higher occurrence-rate of suicide ideation (45%) compared to patients without ideation. Ideators were significantly more hopeless, impulsive, more aware of their illness and having fewer survival & coping beliefs.

Taken together, current study extended the stress-diathesis model in explaining suicidal behaviors among psychotic patients. We also demonstrated that insight in patients plays a role in interacting with suicide ideation. Further, since hopelessness appeared to be the strongest associative factor among all, this study has implications on prevention work focusing on hope maintenance.