Network Analysis of Psychopathological Dimensions in Patients with and Without Suicidal Ideation

Knowing the configuration of psychopathological dimensions in patients according to suicidal ideation in an applied context is fundamental in clinical approaches. A cross-sectional and retrospective single-measurement study was carried out in 625 patients of the University Psychology Clinic of the Complutense University of Madrid (CUP-UCM) divided into two groups: with and without suicidal ideation. Network analysis was used as the main methodology. Anxiety and interpersonal variables appeared as core symptoms of the group with suicidal ideation, reinforcing theoretical models where the social component is a key part of present suicidal ideation. Even though the configuration of networks was not significantly different between the two groups, the severity of symptoms in the group with suicidal ideation was higher. In the predictive analyses, depressive symptoms, hostility, somatization, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism were independently associated with suicidal ideation. This result highlights the complex and multidimensional nature of suicide risk, which cannot be fully explained by depressive symptoms alone. Anxiety and interpersonal variables stand out as core symptoms with influence on others, which may guide clinicians in prioritization in therapeutic goals.