Frequency of suicide ideation and attempts and its correlates among inpatients with depressive disorders at a tertiary care center in North India

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation is higher in psychiatric patients, particularly in those with depressive disorders. It tends to be a precursor to suicide attempts. AIM: To estimate the frequency of suicide ideation and attempts and their sociodemographic and clinical correlations among the inpatients with depressive disorders at a tertiary care center in North India. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among 128 participants diagnosed with depressive disorders who were admitted from September 2019 to April 2021 at a tertiary care hospital, India, using a total enumerative sampling technique. The sociodemographic and clinical data (particularly on suicide) were supplemented with the Modified Scale of Suicide Ideation (to evaluate suicidality) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (for the severity of depression). RESULTS: The median suicide ideation score was 11 inter quartile range (IQR: 19), and the overall mean depression score of the sample was 22.74 standard deviation (SD = 6.24). About 87% reported moderate to severe suicidal ideas. Occupation (farmer) (P < 0.01), current medications (tricyclic antidepressant) (P < 0.05), and history of suicide (P < 0.05) were significantly associated with the severity of depression. However, only a history of suicide was significantly associated with the current suicidal ideation (P < 0.05). About 48% had a history of suicide attempts, and among those who were more severely depressed, intoxicated during a suicide attempt (P < 0.01), taken precautions against being interrupted (P < 0.05), and had an intention to die (P < 0.05) had a significant association with their suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized patients with depressive disorders, suicidal ideation is common. The study reiterates the importance of screening for suicide, particularly in those with more severe depression in the inpatient setting.