Factors of suicidal behavior in patients who have experienced a first psychotic episode

   Relevance and intention. Psychological rehabilitation of patients with a first psychotic episode remains relevant due to their young age, work capacity, and high rehabilitation potential. One of the severe and dramatic manifestations of the disease is the increased risk of suicidal behavior, associated not only with psychopathological experiences, but also with psychological stress from the fact of the disease, the need for long-term psychopharmacotherapy, and regular monitoring.

   Finding the most significant clinical, socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of patients with an increased risk of suicidal activity is the intention of this study.

   Methodology. 139 patients were studied: 60 (43.2 %) men and 79 (56.8 %) women; average age 25.65 ± 0.53 years. Based on medical documentation analysis, two groups of patients were identified: those with suicidal risk (74 individuals) and those without suicidal risk (65 individuals). The collection of empirical material was carried out using the author’s structured interview, a battery of traditional pathopsychological tests, the A. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Mini-Mult test questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Behavior (WCB). Mathematical and statistical data processing was carried out using SPSS v. 25.0 and Excel.2010.

   Results and discussion. In the group of patients with suicidal risk, compared to patients without suicidal risk, the following clinical and socio-demographic characteristics are more common at a statistically significant level: young age (from 18 to 23 years), low educational level, diagnosis of schizotypal disorder, preserved criticism of their condition, a positive reaction to hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital, experience of psychotherapy before hospitalization, low social activity and difficulties in social adaptation, conflictual relationships in the family, the presence of traumatic events that preceded hospitalization, a peculiar appearance (tattoos, self-cuts); Also, among patients with an increased risk of suicide, psychological characteristics are more pronounced: instability of active attention, a complex of personal and behavioral traits measured by the scales “hypochondria”, “depression”, “hysteria”, “psychopathy”, and “psychasthenia” (Mini-Mult), “confrontation” and “distancing” (WCB).

   Conclusion. The study revealed statistically significant differences in several clinical, socio-demographic, and psychological parameters between patients who experienced a first psychotic episode with and without suicidal risk. Based on these findings, plans are underway to develop primary directions for psycho-prophylactic and socio-rehabilitative work with patients who have experienced a first psychotic episode.

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