Suicide risk among individuals admitted to an acute psychiatric ward: clinical characteristics, attachment pattern and dignity perception.

INTRODUCTION

Suicidal behaviour is acomplex phenomenon arising from multiple interactions among different factors.

METHODS

This prospective study included 70 individuals hospitalized for suicide risk (SR) between1-1-2024, and 30-9-2025, at the Service for Psychiatric Diagnosis and Care of AUSL-Modena. After Ethics Committee approval, participants completed Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), and Adult Attachment Scale-Revised (AAS-R). Participants' variables were collected. Data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

We underscored the following SR:suicidal ideation(SI) (50%),suicide attempt by ingestion (SA-I) of medications and/or substances (19%), and suicide attempt by violent means (SA-V)(31%).SI involved exclusively adults (p<.001) whereas among minors, SA-Ipredominated (62%, p<.001). SI was significantly associated with living in acquired family (29%) or independently (11%) (p=.000), whereas SA-V with living with origin family (p=.000) and not having children (p=.001). One quarter of sample presented a mood disorder, and one-half a personality disorder. Previous suicide attempts were present in 89% of participants. C-SSRS score was correlated with both PDI and AAS-R.

DISCUSSION: SR was influenced by clinical, psychological, relational, and social vulnerabilities. These findings underscore the need for an integrated clinical approach to meet individual needs with suicidal behaviour.