Suicidal Ideation is the Preoccupation with Suicidal Thoughts

Suicidal ideation is a medical term for thoughts about or an unusual preoccupation with suicide. The range of suicidal ideation varies greatly from fleeting to detailed planning, role playing, and unsuccessful attempts, which may be deliberately constructed to fail or be discovered, or may be fully intended to result in death. Although most people who undergo suicidal ideation do not go on to make suicide attempts, a significant proportion do.[1] Suicidal ideation is generally associated with depression; however, it seems to have associations with many other psychiatric disorders, life events, and family events, all of which may increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Recurrent suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation is a hallmark of borderline personality disorder. One study found that 73% of patients with borderline personality disorder have attempted suicide, with the average patient having 3.4 attempts.[2] Currently, there are a number of different treatment options for those experiencing suicidal ideation.

Contents

1 Signs and symptoms

1.1 Scales

2 Risk factors

2.1 Psychiatric disorders

2.2 Prescription drug side effects

2.3 Life events

2.4 Family history

2.5 Relationships with parents and friends

3 Prevention

4 Treatment

4.1 Hospitalization

4.2 Outpatient treatment

4.3 Medication

5 See also

6 References

7 Further reading

8 External links

Signs and symptoms

Suicidal ideation has a straightforward definition — suicidal thoughts — but there are some other related signs and symptoms. Some symptoms or co-morbid conditions may include unintentional weight loss, feeling helpless, feeling alone, excessi...

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...gories)" 5.1% of the same participants reported suicidal ideation. Participants who scored "very high" on the Psychological Distress scale "were 77 times more likely to report suicidal ideation than those in the low category".[5]

In a 1-year study conducted in Finland, 41% of the patients who later committed suicide saw a health care professional, most seeing a psychiatrist. Of those, only 22% discussed suicidal intent on their last office visit. In most of the cases, the office visit took place within a week of the suicide, and most of the victims had a diagnosed depressive disorder.[22]

There are many centers where one can receive aid in the fight against suicidal ideation and suicide. Hemelrijk et al. (2012) found evidence that assisting people with suicidal ideation via the internet versus more direct forms such as phone conversations has a greater effect.