Suicide risk among psychiatric in-patients in north-central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Over the last 45 years, mortality due to suicide has increased in some developed and developing countries among both adults and young people. Suicide has also been reported to be high for individuals with substance abuse, mood and personality disorders, and relatively low rates were reported for patients with anxiety disorders. This study was therefore to determine the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the risk of suicide among psychiatric in-patients in North-Central Nigeria.

Objective: The aim of this study is to look at the socio-demographic and clinical correlates of having suicide risk among psychiatric in-patients.

Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 112 in-patients admitted in the psychiatric wards of BSUTH Makurdi, FMC Makurdi and JUTH Jos during the study period of July to September, 2017. Every consecutive in-patient who consented for the study was assessed with a proforma carefully designed by
the authors to measure socio-demographic and clinical attributes. Suicide risk was determined using the 'Suicidality Module' of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.).

Results: Forty-five (40.2%) were males while 67(59.8%) were females. The mean age was 36.98 ±11.09 years, fifty- four (48.2%) subjects were still married at the time of the study. Eighty subjects representing 71.4% of the respondents reported having low (46), moderate (16) or high (18) suicide risk. Having a risk of suicide was significantly associated with the history of default (p=0.001), previous episodes of illness (p=0.005), co-morbid diagnosis (p=0.001), long duration of illness (p=0.001), and not having a good relationship with sexual partner (p=0.002).

Conclusion: The study justifies the need for the assessment of suicide risk among in-patients with high degree of suspicion.

Keywords: Suicide risk, in-patient, correlates