Paranoia and Suicidality: A Cross-Sectional Study in the General Population

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Epidemiology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Paranoia and suicidality are prevalent traits in the general population.
• Understanding their association and shared determinants is crucial for public mental health.
• Previous research has indicated potential links, but large-scale population studies are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between paranoia and suicidality in a representative population sample.
• To identify demographic, psychological, and environmental factors associated with the comorbidity of paranoia and suicidality.

Main Methods:

• A population-based survey of 4507 individuals in Andalusia.
• Assessment of paranoia using the Spanish Green's Paranoid Thoughts Scale (S-GPTS).
• Assessment of suicidality using the MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview; data collected on socio-demographics, personality, substance abuse, social support, and distress.

Main Results:

• Paranoia and suicidality were found to be common, with 6.4% reporting some suicidality.
• A significant, independent association was observed between paranoia and suicidality (F:298.2; p =.0001).
• Paranoia-suicidality comorbidity (PSC) was identified in 0.5% of the sample and associated with poor social support, childhood maltreatment, stressful life events, personality disorder traits, and nicotine dependence.

Conclusions:

• Paranoia and suicidality are common and significantly associated in the general population.
• Comorbidity of paranoia and suicidality is linked to adverse psychosocial factors including low social support, childhood maltreatment, and personality disorders.
• These findings underscore the importance of addressing social support and personality factors in interventions for individuals experiencing paranoia and suicidality.