Suicidal ideation in postpsychotic depression.

Although approximately 10% of schizophrenics commit suicide, little is known about the clinical correlates of this behavior. This study investigated the relationships between suicidal ideation, anxiety, and psychosis in a group of schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients with operationally defined cases of postpsychotic depression. Psychosis contributed to the variance in suicidal ideation over and above the effects of depression and anxiety. Treatment and research implications of this finding are discussed.