Are Hopelessness, Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Suicidal Attempts Being a Cue of a New Attempt?

Bacground: This study aimed the relationship between some demographic and clinical characteristics of suicide attempt with hopelessness, distressing life events prior to the attempt in individuals who attempted suicide and compares the outcomes with healthy volunteers with respect to several sociodemographic variables. Methods: We applied the Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Suicidal Behavior Scale, the Life Events List in 50 patients who attempted suicide and 52 healthy volunteers. Results: Twenty seven patients (54%) had a suicide plan before the attempt, and 32 patients (64%) shared this plan with their immediate environment. Of these patients, 22 (44%) reported that they still had suicidal thought, and 23 (46%) reported that the stressor life event still continued. The scores of Hopelessness Scale and its subscales were significantly higher in the suicide group both with and without depression compared to the control group. Conclusion: It was concluded to be important to follow up suicidal thoughts, negative life events and hopelessness in patients who attempted suicide or at a risk of suicide attempt.