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The association between self-reported anxiety symptoms and suicidality
Gretchen J Diefenbach1, Stephen B Woolley, John W Goethe
1Anxiety Disorders Center, Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06106, USA. gdiefen@harthosp.org
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|February 14, 2009
Summary
Anxiety symptoms significantly increase the likelihood of suicidality in psychiatric outpatients. This association persists even when accounting for depression and other diagnoses, highlighting anxiety
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Anxiety symptoms are prevalent in psychiatric populations.
- The relationship between anxiety and suicidality requires further elucidation.
- Understanding this link is crucial for effective suicide risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between self-reported anxiety symptoms and suicidality.
- To determine if this association is independent of depressive symptoms and diagnoses.
- To explore the utility of self-report measures in assessing suicide risk.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Chart review of 2,778 psychiatric outpatients.
- Utilized routine diagnostic interviews and standardized self-report symptom measures.
Main Results:
- Moderate to severe anxiety symptoms were linked to over three times the likelihood of moderate to severe suicidality.
- Anxiety symptoms showed a 2-fold increased likelihood of suicidality after controlling for confounders.
- The association remained significant, independent of demographics, depressive symptoms, and diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Self-reported anxiety symptoms are significantly associated with suicidality in outpatients.
- This link is not explained by co-occurring mood symptoms or psychiatric diagnoses.
- A single self-report item may serve as a valuable screening tool for suicide risk assessment.
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