Risk Factors for Suicide in Epilepsy Patients
Risk Factors for Suicide in Epilepsy Patients
Suicidal behavior in most persons is related to a chronic and severe physical disease, mood and anxiety disorders, borderline, some personality disorders and substance abuse. Suicidal behavior can be analyzed as evolving from suicidal ideation, development of a suicide plan, nonfatal suicide attempt and death from suicide. Some risk factors are likely to account for the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide plans or attempts. Studies showed that lack of support from friends and family, social or psychological issues and psychosocial stress due to financial problems are most common and disturbing, together with the lack of contact with a clinical provider. Assessment of hospitalized patients shows that only a minority are due to suicides. Significantly more individuals are hospitalized as a result of nonfatal suicidal behavior. An even greater number of these are either treated in out-patient settings or not treated at all.
Community surveys of suicide behaviors suggested four categories, in order of increasing severity: suicidal ideation (thoughts of engaging in suicidal behavior), suicide planning (contemplating of a specific intention of committing suicide), and unplanned and planned (exhibiting self-injurious behavior that includes at least some intent to die) suicide attempt. Self-injuries that are not intended to be suicidal, such as cutting the wrist, may also present a risk factor for suicide attempt and suicide later in life. Approximately 55–80% of self-injured victims will engage in at least one suicidal attempt.
In the USA, rates of nonfatal self-injury are higher among females than among males, whereas completed suicide rates are higher among males. Suicide attempt is an indicator of severe psychological suffering and is the best predictor of completed suicide. Some differences have also been described between the characteristics of persons who attempt suicide and those who complete suicide. There is also an association of more severe methods of attempted suicide with greater risk of completed suicide. Recent literature suggests that persons with epilepsy also have more frequent suicidal ideations, suicidal attempts and completed suicides compared with the general population. In a number of neurological disorders, there is an increased prevalence of suicidal behavior, but possible causative mechanisms are still uncertain.
Understanding Suicidal Behavior
Suicidal behavior in most persons is related to a chronic and severe physical disease, mood and anxiety disorders, borderline, some personality disorders and substance abuse. Suicidal behavior can be analyzed as evolving from suicidal ideation, development of a suicide plan, nonfatal suicide attempt and death from suicide. Some risk factors are likely to account for the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide plans or attempts. Studies showed that lack of support from friends and family, social or psychological issues and psychosocial stress due to financial problems are most common and disturbing, together with the lack of contact with a clinical provider. Assessment of hospitalized patients shows that only a minority are due to suicides. Significantly more individuals are hospitalized as a result of nonfatal suicidal behavior. An even greater number of these are either treated in out-patient settings or not treated at all.
Community surveys of suicide behaviors suggested four categories, in order of increasing severity: suicidal ideation (thoughts of engaging in suicidal behavior), suicide planning (contemplating of a specific intention of committing suicide), and unplanned and planned (exhibiting self-injurious behavior that includes at least some intent to die) suicide attempt. Self-injuries that are not intended to be suicidal, such as cutting the wrist, may also present a risk factor for suicide attempt and suicide later in life. Approximately 55–80% of self-injured victims will engage in at least one suicidal attempt.
In the USA, rates of nonfatal self-injury are higher among females than among males, whereas completed suicide rates are higher among males. Suicide attempt is an indicator of severe psychological suffering and is the best predictor of completed suicide. Some differences have also been described between the characteristics of persons who attempt suicide and those who complete suicide. There is also an association of more severe methods of attempted suicide with greater risk of completed suicide. Recent literature suggests that persons with epilepsy also have more frequent suicidal ideations, suicidal attempts and completed suicides compared with the general population. In a number of neurological disorders, there is an increased prevalence of suicidal behavior, but possible causative mechanisms are still uncertain.
