Background:
Suicidality is a transdiagnostic complex heterogeneous phenomenon without clear predictors for suicide. A differentiation model with four subtypes - perceptual disintegration (PD), primary depressive cognition (PDC), psychosocial "turmoil" (PT), and inadequate communication/coping (IC) - has been developed (1, 2) and validated both dichotomously and gradually (3) (de Winter et al submitted).
Aim:
Testing prior hypotheses regarding these subtypes. Investigating the extent to which subtypes differ clinically and demographically from one another.
Method:
Data were collected from 503 emergency suicidal patients(4) with METC (Medical Ethics Review Committee) approval. SPSS was utilized for statistical analyses. T-tests were used for continuous data within subgroups, and Chi-square tests were applied for dichotomous values. Bonferroni correction was implemented for significances.
Results:
Notable findings were identified (see table at the provided link, https://suicidaliteit.nl/2024/VJC/tabeldifferentiatieabstract/tabel.pdf, ) including:
Longer duration of suicidality correlated with PDC and shorter duration with PD and PT.
Primary psychopathology was associated with PDC.
Substance use was related to IC and PT.
Previous suicide attempts were less frequently associated with PD and PT, and more often with IC, while intentional lethal attempts were less often related to IC.
Personality disorders were associated with IC.
Forced admissions were associated with PDC, while general admissions occurred less frequently with PT.
Age had no association; the female gender was less frequently associated with PD and more often with PDC.
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that suicidality can potentially be distinguished clinically and demographically across different subtypes. The subtype model could provide more valuable insights for targeted treatment, risk assessment, and both confirmation and refutation of previous hypotheses regarding subtypes of suicidality (1, 2).