Type of article: Paper: A cross sectional study of association of cognitive functioning and suicidal behavior in mental illnesses

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is common among individuals with mental illness.Neurocognitive functions, such as planning ability, impulsivity,and other executive skills could contribute to the risk of suicidal behaviour. Executive functions appear particularly susceptible to impairment in individuals with bipolar disorder,borderline personality disorder, depression, and psychotic disorders. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To study the association of cognitive functioning and suicidal behaviour in patients with mental illness. 2. To compare various domains of cognitive functions between suicide attempters and non-attempters METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional study conducted at Institute of Mental Health,Hyderabad with 60 sample size Inclusion criteria Age 18-59yrs, both sexes,diagnosis of mental illness as per ICD-10 criteria Exclusion criteria Intellectual disability,complicated head injury,delerium STUDY PROCEDURE: After ethical committee approval, written informed consent and sociodemographic details are taken from the participants meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Diagnosis of mental illness as per ICD-10 criteria is done.CGI-Severity scale,Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and The Montreal Cognitive Assessment are applied to assess illness severity,suicidality and cognitive functioning respectively.Relevant data obtained is copied to Microsoft Excel and Statistical Analysis is done using SPSS V22. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: positive association between poorer cognitive functioning and suicidal behaviours in patients.