Demoralization and Its Relationship with Depression and Hopelessness in Suicidal Patients Attending an Emergency Department

Bibliographic Data

ID15475874
AuthorsAlessandra Costanza (0000-0001-6387-6462, University of Geneva, corresponding author), Marc Baertschi (0000-0002-0806-7512, Fondation de Nant), Hélène Richard-Lepouriel (0000-0002-0778-3728, University Hospital of Geneva), Kerstin Weber (University Hospital of Geneva), Isabella Berardelli (0000-0003-0602-871X, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea), Maurizio Pompili (0000-0003-1886-4977, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea), Alessandra Canuto (University of Geneva)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue7
Pages2232-2232
Publication date2020-03-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17072232
PMID32225017
OpenAlexW3013804459
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited51

Emergency departments (EDs) play an increasingly crucial role in the management of patients with suicidal behavior (SB). Demoralization has been associated with SB in various populations and conditions, but little is known about the effect of this construct in SB patients who attend an ED. Therefore, a more inclusive SB assessment which considers the demoralization construct could be useful in clinical practice. The main aim of this study was to assess the presence and severity of demoralization in patients visiting EDs for SB. Secondly, the maintenance of the relationship between demoralization and SB after controlling for depression and the proportion of variance which accounted for hopelessness was investigated. A cross-sectional study of patients ( N = 199) visiting an ED for SB was performed, which examined the role of demoralization, hopelessness, and depression on suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs). Demoralization was strongly and positively correlated with SI. Demoralization was related to major depressive episodes, but it was confirmed to be a different and, probably, more sensitive construct for SB, validating its specificity in relation to depression. Hopelessness accounted for a small portion of the variance in SI, compared to demoralization. Formal support for the association of demoralization with SI was provided. Demoralization can improve SB assessment in EDs, particularly among patients whose suicide risk can be unnoticed. Furthermore, demoralization represents a clinically useful concept to increase comprehension of the suffering of the suicidal patient and a possible target for psychotherapeutic interventions

Depression (economics · Emergency department · Medical emergency · Poison control · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Health and Wellbeing Research · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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