Suicidal Ideations in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

There are many controversies about the frequency and burden of suicidality in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

This study was done to determine the prevalence and risk factors of current suicidal ideations in patients with OCD.

In this cross-sectional study, 258 outpatients with OCD (Yale-Brawn Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Y-BOCS ≥16) referring to two psychiatry clinics in Guilan, Iran, from March 2018 to September 2019 were evaluated. Suicidality score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) ≥4 was considered for current suicidal ideation at the first visit. Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) was used to evaluate the intensity of suicidal ideations a week before evaluation. Simple linear and binary logistic regression analyses were used to analyze data by SPSS v. 20.

Current suicidal ideation was found in 22.1% of patients. The previous history of suicide attempt (BPRS, P<0.0001 and BSSI, P<0.0001), a history of OCD in first-degree relatives (BPRS: P=0.004 and BSSI: P=0.010), a history of suicide attempts in first-degree relatives (BPRS: P=0.013 and BSSI: P<0.0001), comorbid diagnosis of depressive or body dysmorphic disorder (BPRS, P<0.0001 and BSSI, P<0.0001), and higher Y-BOCS score (BPRS: P=0.043 and BSSI: P<0.0001) were associated with a higher risk of having suicidal ideation.

Suicidal thoughts are high in Iranian patients with OCD at their first visit to psychiatry clinics. The previous suicide history, positive history of OCD and suicide attempts in their first-degree relatives, the severity of OCD, and some comorbid psychological disorders are associated with a higher risk of suicidal ideation among OCD patients.