Factores asociados a intento suicida en pacientes con antecedente psicótico

Abstract

Suicide is a health issue resulting in 1’000.000 deaths/year, being more frequent in patients with psychiatric illnesses, generating high costs in medical attention of approximately 46,024 USD per year. Objective: Determine the prevalence and the factors associated with suicide attempts in patients with history of psychosis. Methods: Cross sectional study of 226 outpatients attending La Paz clinic in Bogotá between 2008-2009. The information was collected through direct interview with the patient or person responsible of patient’s care. The interview assessed demographic factors, substance abuse, clinical aspects of the current disease and access to medical care. Results: The gender distribution was similar, with a mean age of 41,11±12,5 years. The prevalence of suicide attempt was 26%. The most frequent diagnosis was schizophrenia (53,5%), most of the patients lived with their families (91,2%). Within the factors that increased the probability of suicide attempts, we found female gender (OR = 1,77; CI 0,919-3,422), alcohol use (OR = 2,43; IC 1,07-5,51) and previous hospitalizations with length of stay less than 10 days (OR = 2,065; CI 95: 1,086-3,928). While factors associated with less probability of suicide attempts within the last year were the ones related with adherence to treatment. Alcohol was a factor associated with an increase of probability of suicide attempts in the last 5 years (OR = 1,68 CI 1,17-22,17). Conclusions: Female gender, alcohol use and previous hospitalization with length of stay less than 10 days were factors associated with higher probability of suicide attempts, while adherence to treatment was associated with less probability.