Different profiles of multi-dimensional symptoms and psychological characteristics and their related suicide behavior among college students with psychotic-like experiences.

BACKGROUND

Participants with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have higher suicide behavior (e.g., suicide attempts, suicide deaths), but it remains unclear which features influence suicide behavior in this population. This study aims to identify different PLEs subgroups based on multiple clinical symptoms and psychological characteristics relevant to suicidality, and examine their associations with suicide behavior.

METHODS

Among 6390 college students at baseline, 2913 screened positive for lifetime PLEs. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify different PLEs profiles based on baseline clinical symptoms and psychological characteristics. Model fit indices guided model selection. A generalized linear model examined PLEs profile- suicide behavior associations at one-year follow-up, controlling for covariates, and the population attributable fraction (PAF) was calculated.

RESULTS

A three-profile solution was optimal (entropy = 0.915): troubled (10.3%), vulnerable (3.0%), and symptomatic but content (32.3%). Compared to the non PLEs group (54.4%), all three PLEs groups exhibited significantly higher odd of suicide behavior one year later (OR = 1.69-6.49, PAF = 42.8%). However, only the troubled PLEs group showed significant higher subsequent suicide behavior (OR=2.12, 95%CI: 1.37-3.28, PAF = 14.7%) after controlling for covariates.

CONCLUSION

PLEs exhibit heterogeneity across symptoms and psychological characteristics associated with suicide behavior. A comprehensive PLEs assessment may enhance suicide prevention efforts.