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Published on: March 8, 2018
Psychiatric diagnoses, trauma, and suicidiality
1BUP for Nordhordland, Kvassnesvegen 44, N-5914 Isdalstø, Norge.
Annals of General Psychiatry
|April 24, 2007
Summary
Most psychiatric patients experience trauma, yet few receive a PTSD diagnosis. This underdiagnosis of trauma in psychiatric patients may hinder effective treatment and increase suicide risk.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Trauma Studies
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- High prevalence of trauma exposure among psychiatric patients.
- Significant rates of repeated and prolonged trauma experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the links between psychiatric diagnoses, trauma history, and suicidality in psychiatric patients upon admission.
- To understand the diagnostic accuracy concerning trauma in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 139 consecutive psychiatric patients over two months.
- Data collected via interviews with a 72% response rate.
Main Results:
- 91% of patients reported at least one trauma; 69% experienced repeated trauma.
- Only 7% received a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis, despite 78% comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders.
- 67% experienced suicidal thoughts, and 31% attempted suicide in the week prior to intake; these were linked to specific traumas.
Conclusions:
- Traumatized psychiatric patients are frequently under- or misdiagnosed.
- This diagnostic gap may compromise treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes.
- Specific traumas are associated with particular psychiatric diagnoses and suicidality.
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