Clinical morbidity at pregnancy: The role of previous suicidal attempts and repetition

Abstract

Introduction

Previous suicide attempts are a consistent risk factor for suicide. Repetition has been associated with higher future morbidity and suicidality.

Aim

To examine the relationship between psychological variables at pregnancy and previous repetition of suicidal attempts, first attempts and absence of attempts.

Methods

The sample comprise 568 third trimester pregnant women, mean aged 29.82 years (SD = 4.55; variance = 17–44). Previous suicidal behaviors were assessed with diagnostic interview for genetic studies, depression with PDSS and BDI-II, and affect with POMS. Current suicidal thoughts were assessed with PDSS dimension; hopelessness and helplessness by summing the scores of the POMS items hopeless/gloomy; and lonely/helpless, respectively.

Results

Repeaters (R; n = 11, 1.9%) scored higher than non-repeaters (NR; n = 20, 3.5%) in most of the clinical variables, but only significantly in sleeping/eating disturbances (PDSS).

R and NR when compared to women who never attempted suicide (NA; n = 535, 94.5%) both revealed significant higher levels of depressive/hostility affect (POMS), BDI-II total score, suicide ideation, guilt/shame (PDSS) and anxiety/insecurity or anxiety/somatic (PSDD or BDI-II).

In comparison with NA, R also revealed significant higher levels of negative affect (POMS), PDSS total score, loss of self, mental confusion (PDSS), cognitive and affective symptoms, fatigue (BDI-II), hopelessness and helplessness. NR also differs from NA in their higher emotional liability (PDSS).

Conclusion

Women with previous suicide attempts are at elevated risk for high depressive symptoms, negative affect and suicide ideation at pregnancy. Compared to never attempters, repeaters revealed high morbidity than first attempters. The intervention in pregnancy must carefully assess previous history of suicide attempts.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.