[Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation in Patients with Depressive Disorders in Colombia]

Suicidal ideation is a poor prognostic factor in patients with depression, due to the risk of suicide attempt or completed suicide. However, it is a relatively unexplored aspect in the Colombian population. It is important to identify the associated factors in order to develop appropriate treatment strategies.

To identify risk factors for suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder between 18 and 65 years in 5 Colombian cities.

Data from 295 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder were used from the Study of the Economic Burden of Depression in Colombia. The association between the clinical and psychosocial variables with the presence of suicidal ideation was assessed using two-level hierarchical models.

Female sex was a factor associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation. Factors associated with the presence of suicidal ideation include unemployment, smoking and alcohol use in the past 30 days, mental health perceived as fair or poor, diagnosis of double depression, inpatient treatment, low income, unemployment, and a major financial crisis in the last 2 years.

Suicidal ideation is highly prevalent in patients with major depressive disorder. Risk factors associated with both the clinical and psychosocial domain must be carefully evaluated during risk assessment of patients with this diagnosis.