Psychiatric diagnoses, trauma, and suicidiality

This study aimed to examine the associations between psychiatric diagnoses, trauma and suicidiality in psychiatric patients at intake.

During two months, all consecutive patients (n = 139) in a psychiatric hospital in Western Norway were interviewed (response rate 72%).

Ninety-one percent had been exposed to at least one trauma; 69 percent had been repeatedly exposed to trauma for longer periods of time. Only 7% acquired a PTSD diagnosis. The comorbidity of PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses were 78%. A number of diagnoses were associated with specific traumas. Sixty-seven percent of the patients reported suicidal thoughts in the month prior to intake; thirty-one percent had attempted suicide in the preceding week. Suicidal ideation, self-harming behaviour, and suicide attempts were associated with specific traumas.

Traumatised patients appear to be under- or misdiagnosed which could have an impact on the efficiency of treatment.