Mediators in the Association Between Affective Temperaments and Suicide Risk Among Psychiatric Inpatients

The mediating role of reflective functioning in the association between childhood trauma and suicide attempt

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma is intimately related with suicidal behaviour. Patients who have suffered childhood trauma develop impaired Reflective Functioning (RF), which refers to the capacity to understand ourselves and others in terms of intentional mental states. An improvement in RF has been associated with a reduction in suicidal attempts, but the mediating role of RF between childhood trauma and suicidal behaviour has not been addressed so far.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to examine the potential mediating effect of RF among childhood trauma and suicide attempts.

METHOD

We included 748 patients who had attempted suicide at least once. They were asked to complete the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ-8), the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating scale (CSSRS), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF). We conducted linear regressions by simple mediating model to examine the role of RF in the indirect association between childhood trauma and the number of suicide attempts.

RESULTS

Our results show significant indirect effects through hypo and hypermentalizing between Emotional Abuse (EA) and Sexual Abuse (SA) in childhood and the number of suicide attempts in lifetime. These results indicate that ineffective RF significantly mediates the association between childhood trauma and suicidality.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study supporting the mediational role of RF in the relationship between EA and SA, and the number of suicide attempt in lifetime. These findings have important implications for reducing suicide rates and preventing future re-attempts. Further studies analysing this mediating role and focusing efforts on increasing RF-based interventions are required.

The mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between affective temperament and craving: Cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of bipolar and alcohol use disorder patients

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur and their interplay is influenced by several factors. Alexithymia is connected to BD and AUD; affective temperaments serve as risk factors for both; craving contributes to the development and maintenance of AUD. The present study tested whether alexithymia play a mediating role in the relationship between affective temperaments and craving in alcoholic bipolar patients.

METHODS

151 alcoholic bipolar patients (38 % females, mean age: 45.69 ± 9.04 years) were enrolled. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego scale (TEMPS-A), and the Typology Craving Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered. Correlations among TAS-20, TEMPS-A, CTQ were conducted. Regression analyses were applied to verify the mediating hypothesis.

RESULTS

Difficulty in identifying feelings mediated the association between anxious temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.42, BCaCI: 0.22-0.69), cyclothymic temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.55, BCaCI: 0.30-0.87), irritable temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.45, BCaCI: 0.19-0.80). TAS-20 difficulty in communicating feelings to others mediated the association between anxious temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.20, BCaCI: 0.06-0.41).

LIMITATIONS

The sample size did not allow subgroup analyses. Data were collected cross-sectionally and in a single center. We did not investigate whether BD or AUD occurred first, although it might influence the mediation role of alexithymia.

CONCLUSION

Among alcoholic bipolar patients, assessing and targeting alexithymia may be useful to modulate craving and, in turn improve, the general mental status of patients.

Premorbid temperament as predictor of onset of depression: 23-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Previously Cloninger's temperament traits have been researched as a risk factor for depression mostly in cross-sectional studies. In these studies, especially high harm avoidance has been associated with an increased risk of depression. The main objective of this study was to investigate how temperament traits affect the risk of the onset of depression in a previously mentally healthy adult population.

METHODS

This study includes a follow-up period of 23 years from the age of 31 until 54 in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study. Temperament was measured at the 31-year follow-up using Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The outcome of the study was depressive disorder diagnosis during the follow-up in both sexes. To be able to take correlations between temperament traits we also did an analysis using temperament clusters.

RESULTS

Our sample size was 3999 individuals, out of which 240 were diagnosed with depression. For women an increase in the TCI score for novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA) or persistence (P) increased the risk of depression during the follow-up. For men only HA was a significant predictor of depression. An increase in reward dependence (RD) was found to reduce the risk of psychotic depression. In the analysis using the temperament clusters, the cluster including shy and pessimistic individuals was associated with risk for depression diagnosis in men.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective general population-based cohort study added to previous knowledge of high HA being a risk factor for depression, but it also found new associations such as higher P and NS.

The Impact of Affective Temperaments on Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: Results from an Observational Multicentric Study on Patients with Mood Disorders

Suicide ideation and behaviors are major health issues in the field of mental health. Several psychological and psychosocial factors have been taken into account as possible predictors of suicidality. Only recently affective temperaments have been considered as possible factors linked to suicide. This study aims to investigate the relationship between affective temperaments and suicidality, including the lifetime onset of suicide ideation, lifetime presence of suicide attempts and the total number of lifetime suicide attempts. This is a naturalistic multicentric observational study, involving outpatient units of seven University sites in Italy. Patients were administered with the short version of TEMPS-M and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. A total of 653 participants were recruited, with a diagnosis of bipolar (55.7%), unipolar (35.8%) and cyclothymic disorder (8.4%). Regression models showed that the presence of lifetime suicide behaviors was increased in patients presenting trait related impulsivity (p < 0.0001), poor free-interval functioning (p < 0.05), higher number of affective episodes (p < 0.01), higher number of hospitalizations (p < 0.0001), cyclothymic and irritable affective temperaments (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). Conversely, the presence of hyperthymic affective disposition reduced the likelihood of having suicidal behaviors (p < 0.01). Lifetime suicidal ideation was associated with trait-related impulsivity (p < 0.001), poor free-interval functioning (p < 0.05), higher number of affective episodes (p < 0.001) and of hospitalizations (p < 0.001). Depressive temperaments increased the likelihood of presenting suicidal ideation (p < 0.05), along with irritable temperaments (p < 0.01), contrary to hyperthymic affective (p < 0.05). Results of the present study confirm that affective disposition has a significant impact on the onset of suicidal ideation and behaviors, and that affective dispositions should be assessed in clinical settings to identify people at risk of suicide. Moreover, a wider clinical evaluation, including different clinical psychopathological dimensions, should be taken into consideration to develop effective preventive interventions.

The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Suicide risk is a multifaceted phenomenon, and many risk factors are involved in its complexity. In the last few decades, mental health apps have spread, providing economic and affordable strategies to prevent suicide. Therefore, the aim of this review is to identify original studies on mobile apps that target suicidal crises. The review follows PRISMA guidelines, searching through four major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycInfo and Web of Science) for relevant titles/abstracts published from January 2010 to May 2022. It includes original studies that explicitly analyze mobile apps for suicide prevention. A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies assessed the feasibility and acceptability of mobile apps, ten studies assessed the efficacy of mobile apps in preventing suicide, and six studies described randomized control trial protocols not yet implemented. Generally, the apps were judged by participants to be acceptable and helpful, and several improvements to enhance the functionality of apps were suggested. The efficacy of mobile apps, although limited and assessed with very heterogenous methods, was confirmed by most of the studies. Mobile apps could represent a helpful supplement to traditional prevention tactics, providing real-time monitoring of at-risk persons, personalized tools to cope with suicidal crises, and immediate access to specific support.

High depression symptomatology and mental pain characterize suicidal psychiatric patients

BACKGROUND

Symptoms of depression are transdiagnostic heterogenous features frequently assessed in psychiatric disorders, that impact the response to first-line treatment and are associated with higher suicide risk. This study assessed whether severe mental pain could characterize a specific phenotype of severely depressed high-risk psychiatric patients. We also aimed to analyze differences in treatments administered.

METHODS

2,297 adult patients (1,404 females and 893 males; mean age = 43.25 years, SD = 15.15) treated in several Italian psychiatric departments. Patients were assessed for psychiatric diagnoses, mental pain, symptoms of depression, hopelessness, and suicide risk.

RESULTS

More than 23% of the patients reported high depression symptomatology and high mental pain (HI DEP/HI PAIN). Compared to patients with lower symptoms of depression, HI DEP/HI PAIN is more frequent among females admitted to an inpatient department and is associated with higher hopelessness and suicide risk. In addition, HI DEP/HI PAIN (compared to both patients with lower symptoms of depression and patients with higher symptoms of depression but lower mental pain) were more frequently diagnosed in patients with personality disorders and had different treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients reporting severe symptoms of depression and high mental pain presented a mixture of particular dangerousness (high trait hopelessness and the presence of suicide ideation with more frequency and less controllability and previous suicide behaviors). The presence of severe mental pain may act synergically in expressing a clinical phenotype that is likewise treated with a more complex therapeutic regime than that administered to those experiencing symptoms of depression without mental pain.

Demoralization in suicide: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

In psychiatric literature, few original studies exist on the topic of demoralization in suicide. In this review, we aim to identify original studies on suicidal ideation (SI)/suicidal behavior (SB) and demoralization in populations of community-dwellers and patients with somatic or psychiatric disorders.

METHODS

We employed a systematic approach that followed PRISMA guidelines, searching through four major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct, and PsychINFO) for relevant titles/abstracts published from January 1980-June 2021. We included original studies that explicitly mentioned the investigation of a potential association between SI/SB and demoralization.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies met our inclusion criteria. Their synthesis revealed that demoralization can be associated with SI/SB in a wide range of populations (community dwellers, patients with somatic or psychiatric disorders) and lead to significantly higher suicide risk (odds ratios of >6 were encountered in community dwellers experiencing financial hardship or isolation). Moreover, demoralization alone (about half the patients who were demoralized did not meet the criteria for an affective disorder nor were they clinically depressed) or together with depression has been identified as a major risk factor for SI/SB. Regarding the crucial issue of progression from SI to SA, in the context of the "ideation-to-action" frame, some authors found that the interaction of demoralization and over-arousal could be a useful predictor for this progression, while others found that depression alone was sufficient to differentiate attempters from non-attempters or the interaction with shutdown (helplessness and low positive emotions).

CONCLUSION

These results emphasize the possibility to identify demoralization as an independent risk factor for suicide. In patients with psychiatric disorders, the association between demoralization and SI/SB may be transnosographic. Overall, from the clinical implications perspective, our findings highlight that: i. Assessment of demoralization may contribute to a more comprehensive suicide risk detection. This appears particularly relevant in Emergency Departments (EDs) where heterogeneous population typologies are usually admitted and a clinical diagnosis of depression is often difficult to be defined. ii. Additionally, since meaninglessness is considered one of the demoralization subcomponents, meaning-centered psychotherapeutic approaches prove to be indicated and they can be initiated already at the EDs upon first contact with the patient. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Problematic Use of the Internet Mediates the Association between Reduced Mentalization and Suicidal Ideation: A Cross-Sectional Study in Young Adults

Suicide is a major public health problem, and it is urgent to investigate its underlying clinical and psychological concomitants. It has been suggested that low mentalization skills and problematic use of the internet (PUI) are factors that can play a role in suicidal behaviors. It is possible that poor mentalization skills contribute to leading to forms of PUI, which, in turn, can represent triggers for suicidal ideation (SI). We tested this hypothesis through a quantitative and cross-sectional study on a sample (n = 623) of young adults (age range: 18−34). Self-report measures investigating symptoms related to Social Media Addiction (SMA), Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), mentalization capacity, and SI were used. A single mediation analysis with two mediators was carried out to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of mentalization on SI through the mediating role of SMA- and IGD-related symptoms, controlling for potential confounding factors (e.g., socio-demographic and addiction-related variables). The four explored variables were significantly associated with each other (all p < 0.001) across all subjects; the mediational model showed that the total effect of mentalization on SI was significant (B = −0.821, SE = 0.092 (95% CI: −1.001; −0.641)) and that both SMA- (B = −0.073, SE = 0.034 (95% CI: −0.145; −0.008)) and IGD-related symptoms (B = 0.046, SE = 0.027 (95% CI: −0.107; −0.001)) were significant mediators of such association. Our findings support the possibility that PUI severity plays a relevant role in mediating the association between low mentalization skills and levels of SI.

Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidal Ideation: A Path Analysis Study

Epidemiological studies have suggested that childhood maltreatment increases suicidal ideation, and dissociative symptoms and hopelessness are involved in this relation. To better address this issue, we used a path analysis model to examine the role of different types of childhood maltreatment on suicidal ideation, investigating whether hopelessness and dissociative symptoms mediated this relation. A sample of 215 adult psychiatric inpatients was enrolled between January 2019 and January 2020, at the psychiatric unit of Sant’Andrea Medical Center in Rome, Italy. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II), and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) were used to test the hypotheses. Results revealed that the presence of sexual abuse directly affected suicidal ideation (β = 0.18, SE = 0.8, p < 0.05), while emotional abuse and neglect indirectly increased suicidal ideation via dissociation (β = 0.05, SE = 0.02, 95% C.I. 0.01/0.09) and hopelessness (β = 0.10, SE = 0.03, 95% C.I. = 0.04/0.16). Professionals working with children should be aware of the long-term consequences of childhood maltreatment, particularly suicide risk. Furthermore, professionals working with adults should inquire about past childhood maltreatment.

Are Affective Temperaments, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect Involved in Mentalization Abilities in Patients With Psychiatric Disorders?

Patients who have experienced emotional abuse and neglect often develop psychiatric disorders in adulthood. However, whether emotional abuse, neglect, and mentalization abilities relate to one another and the role of possible mediators of this relationship in psychiatric patients are still unknown. We evaluated the potential role of affective temperament as a mediator of the relationship between emotional abuse and neglect and mentalization. We performed a cross-sectional study of 252 adult psychiatric inpatients. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Mentalization Questionnaire, and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) were administered. Results showed a significant indirect effect of emotional abuse and neglect on scores on the Mentalization Questionnaire through the TEMPS-A (b = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [0.143-0.375]), demonstrating that affective temperament mediates the relationship among emotional abuse, neglect, and mentalization impairment in psychiatric patients. A careful evaluation of mentalization abilities in patients with psychiatric disorders and who have a history of emotional abuse and neglect is necessary for a better understanding of psychopathology and for the choice of therapeutic strategies.

The assessment of affective temperament and life quality in myofascial pain syndrome patients

OBJECTIVES

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is known as a chronic pain syndrome, which is often associated with decreased life quality, depressive, and anxiety disorders. Affective temperament characteristics are mental illness signs that may assist in anticipating and detecting a tendency to depression and anxiety in MPS. The properties and impacts of affective temperament on pain, disability, life quality, depressive, and anxiety disorders in MPS patients were intended to explore by this study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This case-control study was carried out in the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic of a university hospital, Turkey, from October 2018 to January 2019 with 51 MPS patients and 47 healthy controls (HC). Physical examination, clinical history, visual analog scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego- Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) scale were performed for all volunteers.

RESULTS

TEMPS-A depressive, cyclothymic, and anxious scores were remarkably higher in MPS patients than in the HC group. In MPS patients, SF 36 physical and mental health summary scores were remarkably lower than the control group. Additionally, BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in patients with MPS than in the control group. There was a significant positive correlation between depressive and anxious temperament scores and NDI. Moreover, a negative correlation was found between the SF36 physical health summary score and depressive and anxious temperament scores. Also, the mental health summary score was negatively correlated with depressive, cyclothymic, and anxious temperament scores.

CONCLUSION

This research assesses for the first time of the affective temperament characteristics of MPS patients.KEY POINTSMyofascial pain syndrome patients have distinct temperaments than the control group.Myofascial pain syndrome patients had remarkably higher TEMPS-A depressive, cyclothymic, and anxious scores than the healthy control group.Life quality, clinical severity, and courses can be affected by differences in temperament.Clinicians can readily apply the TEMPS-A temperament scale in patient application to demonstrate these differences.The anticipation of a psychiatric situation plays a more significant role in evaluating the higher mood symptom rates and their effect on life quality.

Psychological pain and suicidal behavior: A review

Despite accumulation of clinical research on risk factors for suicidal process, understanding of the mechanisms and pathways underlying the emergence of suicidal thoughts and their progression to acts is insufficient. The suicidal process has been conceptualized in multiple psychological theories that have aimed to shed light on the interplay of contributing factors. One of the central concepts included in both the cubic model of suicide and the three-step theory of suicide is psychological pain (mental pain or psychache). Over the two last decades, interest in psychological pain has increased considerably, particularly since the discovery of the complex link between the pain processing system and the neurobiology of suicide, and the putative antisuicidal effect of buprenorphine. Growing evidence supports the association between experiencing psychological pain and suicidal ideation and acts in both clinical and non-clinical samples. However, many questions related to the concept of psychological pain and its role in prediction of suicidal behavior remain to be answered in future research. In this narrative review, we have outlined the history of the concept, the definition of psychological pain, and the tools developed for its measurement, summarized the empirical research on psychological pain in relation to suicidal behavior, and suggested future directions for clinical research on psychological pain and suicidal behavior.

Structural Model of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior: Mediating Effect of Impulsivity

The present study aimed to establish the associations between hopelessness, depression and impulsivity with respect to suicidal ideation and behavior, and to explore the role that impulsivity plays in the mechanism that operates between depression and hopelessness. Through an empirical observational study, with an analytical scope based on a cross-sectional design for a sample of 228 university students and using The Inventory of Suicide Orientation (ISO-30); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS); and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). The results indicated a significant positives correlations between BDI, BHS, BIS and ISO-30. Regression analysis showed that depression, impulsivity and hopelessness explain between 57% and 67% of the variance in the risk of suicidal ideation and behavior. Through the analysis of structural equation modeling, three models were established showing that impulsivity mediates the relationship between depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation and behavior. This study has implications for mental health intervention and research, in that it emphasizes the importance of impulsivity traits as factors that act as triggers in the association between the presence of depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior.

Suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and affective temperament in patients with blepharospasm

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between suicidal ideation and neurological, psychological, and psychiatric features in patients with blepharospasm (BSP).

METHODS

We enrolled 70 BSP patients and 80 control subjects. All participants underwent a psychiatric and psychometric evaluation: Structured Clinical Interview, Clinical Global Impression, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, San Diego Auto-questionnaire. BSP severity was assessed using the Blepharospasm Severity Rating Scale.

RESULTS

Suicidal ideation was reported in 18% of BSP patients and 6% had current suicidal ideation. 83% of BSP patients had severe hopelessness. BSP patients presented an increased sense of hopelessness (OR= 1.39, 95% CI = 1.13/1.70) and a pronounced depressive temperament (OR= 1.36, 95% CI = 1.12/1.65). Suicidal ideation in BSP patients correlated with psychiatric disorders (OR = 3.96, 95% CI = 1.23/12.74) and higher scores on the HAM-A (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02/1.20), HAM-D (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.05/1.32), CGI (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.18/2.90), TEMPS-A Cyclothymia (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02/1.31).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest the presence of suicidal ideation and severe hopelessness in BSP patients.KEY POINTSBSP patients as compared to controls more frequently reported the presence of a psychiatric disorder and more severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, psychopathology on the CGI, suicidal ideation, and hopelessness.BSP patients with prevalent cyclothymic temperament had more severe suicidal ideation, suggesting an increased suicide risk most likely due to difficulties in psychological adaptation to changing environments, including the neurological disease.A psychiatric assessment is recommended for patients with this condition, with possible referral to a suicide prevention centre.

Suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts in patients with obsessive-compulsive tic-related disorder vs obsessive-compulsive disorder: results of a multicenter Italian study

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorder (TD) represent highly disabling, chronic and often comorbid psychiatric conditions. While recent studies showed a high risk of suicide for patients with OCD, little is known about those patients with comorbid TD (OCTD). Aim of this study was to characterize suicidal behaviors among patients with OCD and OCTD.

METHODS

Three hundred and thirteen outpatients with OCD (n = 157) and OCTD (n = 156) were recruited from nine different psychiatric Italian departments and assessed using an ad-hoc developed questionnaire investigating, among other domains, suicide attempt (SA) and ideation (SI). The sample was divided into four subgroups: OCD with SA (OCD-SA), OCD without SA (OCD-noSA), OCTD with SA (OCTD-SA), and OCTD without SA (OCTD-noSA).

RESULTS

No differences between groups were found in terms of SI, while SA rates were significantly higher in patients with OCTD compared to patients with OCD. OCTD-SA group showed a significant male prevalence and higher unemployment rates compared to OCD-SA and OCD-noSA sample. Both OCTD-groups showed an earlier age of psychiatric comorbidity onset (other than TD) compared to the OCD-SA sample. Moreover, patients with OCTD-SA showed higher rates of other psychiatric comorbidities and positive psychiatric family history compared to the OCD-SA group and to the OCD-noSA groups. OCTD-SA and OCD-SA samples showed higher rates of antipsychotics therapies and treatment resistance compared to OCD-noSA groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with OCTD vs with OCD showed a significantly higher rate of SA with no differences in SI. In particular, OCTD-SA group showed different unfavorable epidemiological and clinical features which need to be confirmed in future prospective studies.

Mental Health Disturbances and Related Problems in Italian University Medical Students from 2000 to 2020: An Integrative Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Studies

Background and objectives: The presence of mental health problems in the population of medical students in Italy has been evaluated in several cross-sectional studies, which have used different methodologies and study designs. However, a global overview of the prevalence of mental health problems in Italian medical students is not available, although this would be essential for promoting preventive strategies and supportive treatments. Materials and Methods: An integrative review aiming to describe the prevalence of mental health problems in Italian medical students has been performed. Results: The most relevant findings are the high prevalence of substance use, in particular alcohol and nicotine, and of depressive and anxiety disorders in Italian medical students. In particular, substance use ranges from 13 to 86%, which is higher compared to Italian students coming from other faculties. Italian medical students show a high rate of smoking and of depressive symptoms of about 20%. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to develop appropriate supportive interventions for the medical student population, which are rarely provided and implemented among the routine activities of Italian medical universities. A relevant aspect to be considered is the stigma and anticipated discrimination attached to mental disorders, which reduce the help-seeking process in medical students.

Influence of Spiritual Dimensions on Suicide Risk: The Role of Regional Differences

The field of suicide prevention has been enriched by research on the association between spirituality and suicide. Many authors have suggested focusing on the various dimensions of religiosity in order to better understand the association between religion and suicidal risk, but it is unclear whether the relationship between spirituality and suicidality differs between countries with different cultures, life values, and sociohistorical experiences. To explore this, the aim of this multicenter study was to investigate the possible relationship between suicide and spirituality in Italy and Austria. In the two countries, two different groups of subjects participated: psychiatric patients and university students. The patients were evaluated with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. In addition, the following measures were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale-B, the Symptom-Checklist-90-Standard, and the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being. Our results confirmed the multifactorial nature of the relation between suicide risk and the various religious/spiritual dimensions, including religious/spiritual well-being and hope immanent. However, regional differences moderated this relationship in both the clinical and nonclinical samples.

Adolescent suicide risk and experiences of dissociation in daily life

Dissociation is associated with risk for suicide in adults, but this link is not well studied in adolescents, in spite of their marked suicide risk. This study assessed adolescents' dissociative experiences in daily life and evaluated the association between dissociative experiences and suicide risk, including the independence of this relationship from related affective and clinical states and demographic characteristics. Clinically referred early adolescents (N = 162; aged 11-13) were assessed via multi-informant clinical interview, questionnaires, and 4-day ecological momentary assessment protocol. Adolescents were classified as being at elevated suicide risk using multi-informant, multi-method reports of suicide risk behavior and/or at elevated proximal risk using the 4-day EMA only. Suicide risk was associated with daily dissociative experiences, and this relationship was independent of daily negative and positive affect and co-occurring borderline personality symptoms. Gender differences emerged, such that the relationship between daily dissociative experiences and suicide risk was only significant in adolescent girls. Overall, findings suggest dissociation may be independently relevant to adolescent suicide risk, above and beyond effects of psychopathology and affective disturbance, and especially in girls. Daily dissociative experiences may help understand and detect suicide risk among early adolescents and warrant further research.

Diagnosis, Clinical Features, and Therapeutic Implications of Agitated Depression

Agitated "unipolar" depression is a clinical entity characterized by excitement together with depressed mood during the same episode. The clinical picture of agitated "unipolar" depression is characterized by a depressed and anxious mood with inner, psychic agitation, whereas motor agitation may or may not be present. Some investigators have conceptualized this disorder as a mixed affective state, laying on the bipolar disorder spectrum, but controversies still persist. The diagnosis of agitated "unipolar" depression has important prognostic and therapeutic implications, with many clinicians reporting difficulties to adequately diagnose and treat it.

Differences in metacognitive beliefs among patients with bipolar disorder with or without previous suicide attempts

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare differences in metacognitive beliefs between patients with bipolar disorder type I (BPDI) with previous suicide attempts (BPDI+), those without suicide attempts (BPDI-), and a control group. It also discusses the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and suicidal behavioral parameters. Materials and methods: The study included 72 BPDI+ and 73 BPDI- euthymic patients and 86 healthy age- and gender-matched individuals. All participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Beck Depression Inventory, Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I. In addition, the Young Mania Rating Scale was used for the patient groups. Results: Both the BPDI+ and BPDI- patients had higher MCQ-30 scores than the control group (p < .01). Scores for the 'need to control thoughts' subscale were higher in the BPDI+ group than in the BPDI- group and were also higher in both the BPDI+ and BPDI- groups compared to the control group (p < .01). In addition, the 'cognitive self-consciousness' sub-scores of the BPDI- group were higher than those of the BPDI+ and the control group. Conclusion: The scores of 'cognitive self-consciousness' and 'need to control thoughts' vary across BPDI+ and BPDI- patients. It seems important to consider metacognitive beliefs regarding 'need to control thoughts' and 'cognitive self-consciousness' in terms of suicide prevention.

Assessing interpersonal and mood factors to predict trajectories of suicidal ideation within an inpatient setting

BACKGROUND

A limited amount of research has assessed how suicide risk changes over time, and how changes can be predicted. The current study assessed suicidal ideation and risk factors throughout inpatient visits to a psychiatric facility to refine prediction of suicide risk.

METHOD

In total, 491 patients (73% Female; mean age = 39.21) at a psychiatric inpatient facility self-reported the frequency of their suicidal thoughts, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, hopelessness, depression, and anxiety in the prior 24 h on a daily basis. Levels of suicidal ideation and risk factors at each quarter of an inpatient's stay were identified, and latent class growth analysis used to identify common patterns of change over time.

RESULTS

Changes in mood and interpersonal factors were associated with changes in suicidal ideation over days and weeks. Further, they contributed to the prediction of future levels of suicidal ideation. Thwarted belongingness at admission predicted whether patients had pervasively high suicidal thoughts over the course of inpatient visits or showed marked improvements, while perceived burdensomeness predicted which patients would develop suicidal thoughts during their visit.

LIMITATIONS

The use of single item measures may limit specificity of measurement of suicide risk factors. Hourly, rather than daily measurement used in the current study, may more accurately identify suicide risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Change in suicidal ideation is associated with changes in a number of psychological risk factors. Regular assessment of interpersonal risk factors may identify warning signs and aid clinical interventions in reducing suicidal thoughts and associated self-injurious behaviours.

Relationship between hyperthymic temperament, self-directedness, and self-transcendence in medical students and staff members

AIM

We aimed to investigate the hypotheses that hyperthymic temperament may be positively associated with self-directedness and self-transcendence with adjustment for relevant factors.

METHODS

Using the database of our previous studies, the data from 111 healthy subjects with scores for both the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire were secondarily used for the present study.

RESULTS

Hyperthymic Temperament scores were significantly and positively associated with Self-Transcendence scores, but not with Self-Directedness scores, following adjustment for relevant factors. Despite the lack of association between self-transcendence and self-directedness, cooperativeness was significantly and positively associated with self-transcendence and self-directedness, but not with hyperthymic temperament. Moreover, despite the lack of association between hyperthymic temperament and self-directedness, harm avoidance was significantly and negatively associated with hyperthymic temperament and self-directedness, but not with self-transcendence.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest that hyperthymic temperament may be positively associated with self-transcendence, but not with self-directedness. Moreover, hyperthymic temperament may be, a selfish and reckless trait, self-transcendence may be altruistic and not reckless, and self-directedness may be altruistic but reckless.