Uncovering key biopsychosocial risk factors in non-violent suicide attempts: evidence from a Hungarian...

This Hungarian cross-sectional study examined patterns and differences in suicide risk factors across various suicidality groups, including individuals with single or multiple suicide attempts, as well as gender-specific variations. Additionally, it explored these risk factors within a biopsychosocial framework to offer a comprehensive understanding of their interconnected effects.

A total of 300 psychiatric inpatients were recruited from Péterfy Sandor Hospital in Budapest, Hungary, including 146 individuals (48.67%) with a history of suicide attempts and 154 (51.33%) without such a history. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 85 years, with a mean age of 37.98 years (SD = 12.80 for suicide attempters, 13.72 for non-attempters). The overall sample comprised 83 males (27.7%) and 217 females (72.3%). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the influence of demographic characteristics, life history variables, and psychiatric diagnoses on suicide risk, aiming to identify significant predictors of suicide attempts within a biopsychosocial framework.

Depression was the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis in the sample. Significant predictors of suicide attempts included family history of suicide (OR = 2.283, p = 0.015), prescription drug misuse (OR = 1.900, p = 0.047), and nicotine dependence (OR = 1.869, p = 0.035). In repeated suicide attempts, bipolar disorder (OR = 5.761, p = 0.006), borderline personality disorder (OR = 5.132, p = 0.003), depression (OR = 4.064, p = 0.004), and job loss (OR = 4.348, p = 0.031) emerged as the strongest predictors. Among men, job loss (OR = 4.074, p = 0.014) was a prominent risk factor, while among women, having two or more children (OR = 2.740, p = 0.036) and a family history of suicide (OR = 2.459, p = 0.028) significantly increased suicide risk. Relationship conflict was also associated with higher risk in women (OR = 0.382, p = 0.035).

Our research supports the notion that suicide risk factors interact with one another, and in certain cases, their effects may be synergistic-mutually reinforcing-rather than antagonistic. Similarly, protective factors also appear to amplify each other's impact, suggesting a cumulative and interactive model of both risk and resilience.