Psychiatric Comorbidities, Impulsivity, and Suicidal Intent: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Suicide Attempters

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a multifaceted phenomenon that is influenced by various risk factors, including psychiatric comorbidities, impulsivity, and suicidal intent. This study aimed to assess these factors in patients who had attempted suicide.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study included 105 patients who had attempted suicide. Data was collected using a self-designed pro forma for socio-demographic details and clinical profiles. The Modified Kuppuswamy Scale was used to assess socioeconomic status, the Mini Neuropsychiatric Inventory (MINI) Plus to diagnose psychiatric disorders, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) to measure impulsivity, and the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (BSIS) to assess suicidal intent.
Results: The most common method of suicide attempt was poisoning (83.8%), with family conflicts being the primary precipitating factor. Psychiatric comorbidities were present in 58.1% of participants, with depressive disorder being the most prevalent (28.6%). Higher impulsivity scores were associated with lower suicide intent.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of addressing psychiatric comorbidities and impulsivity in suicide prevention strategies.