Suicidal ideation and behavior and some psychological correlates in physically disabled motor-vehicle accident...

Previous research has shown some maladaptive psychological reactions and even increased incidence of various mental disorders in patients with spinal cord injury during their rehabilitation. Self-concept and suicidal risk in particular have not been studied often in these samples.

Our principal goal was to explore suicidal ideation and behavior, self-concept, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and correlations among these traits, in subjects after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) resulting in permanent physical disability.

Our sample consisted of 50 individuals with paraplegia, tetraplegia, or significant amputation, of whom eight had a family history of suicidal behavior. The following assessment instruments were used: an anamnestic data questionnaire; the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale; the Impact of Event Scale-Revised; and the Suicidal Ideations and Behaviour Questionnaire.

Rehabilitating patients with spinal cord injury were characterized by low total self-concept, presence of PTSD symptoms, and suicidal ideation and behavior. PTSD symptoms were correlated with low self-concept and suicidal tendencies.

While limited by small sample size, our study results support the need to further explore suicide risk and psychological correlates in patients with permanent physical disability.