Examining Correlates of Suicidal Ideation between those with and without Psychosis in a Psychiatric Inpatient Sample

Background:: The present study explored group differences in suicide-related variables between those with and without psychosis within the context of a psychiatric inpatient sample that included a range of affective disorder diagnoses. Methods:: 54 individuals with psychosis and 103 individuals without psychosis (but experiencing other severe and acute mental health issues) were compared, and analyses of indirect effects were conducted to test specificity of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, agitation, and insomnia as accounting for group differences in suicidal ideation. Results:: Patients without psychosis experienced higher levels of suicidal ideation, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, agitation, and insomnia than patients with psychosis. Additionally, perceived burdensomeness and agitation emerged as robust explanatory factors for the relationship between psychosis status and suicidal ideation. Limitations:: Future work should include longitudinal analyses to understand temporal relationships between study variables. Additionally, stability of patients’ psychotic symptoms was required and therefore may not reflect those at greatest acuity. Conclusions:: Although several studies have investigated suicide-related variables among those with psychosis as compared to the general population, the present study is novel in that the severity of these symptoms in those with psychosis is compared to that of those in other acutely ill populations (e.g., major depression, substance use).