[Suicide attempts and panic disorder: a study of 62 hospitalized suicidal patients]

Suicidal behaviours are multifactorial behaviours. While, historically, anxiety has not been regarded as an important risk factor in suicidal behaviours, recent epidemiological studies carried out on general population or panic patients have evidenced the possible links between suicidal behaviours and the occurrence of panic attacks. The aim of our study was to validate the hypothesis which stipulates that panic disorder may contribute to an actualization of suicidal behaviour in trying to establish the prevalence of panic disorder in a population of suicidal attempters. The diagnoses were reached after an interview using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version modified for the study of Anxiety disorders (SADS-LA). The medical seriousness of the suicide attempts was assessed with the Risk Rescue Rating Scale (RRRS) of Weissman and Worden and the suicidal intent with the Suicidal Intent Scale of Beck (SIS). In the 62 suicide attempters hospitalized after minor or slightly more serious suicide attempts, we found high current and life-time prevalence of panic disorder (17.7% and 22.6% respectively). Comorbidity with major depressive episodes and addictive behaviours in suicide attempters with panic disorder was high. Current comorbidity rates were 72.8% and 27.3% respectively; life-time comorbidity rates were 71.4% and 21.4%. Patients who suffered from major depressive disorder with related panic disorder were given to more impulsive suicide attempts, even if the difference with depressed patients without panic disorder was statistically insignificant.