Evaluation of Suicide Risk in Chronic Schizophrenic Hospitalized Patients

Schizophrenic patients have a high risk for suicide. Research indicates that suicide is the cause of death in 5–13% of schizophrenic patients. Many factors are known to be involved in the suicidal process, some of which are different from those in the general population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the suicidal intent in schizophrenic hospitalized patients. In this descriptive cross sectional study, the numbers of patients who participated and continued all the psychometrics were 94 patients, 58 males and 36 females. Psychiatric sheet of General Secretariat of Mental Health, Structured interview using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM V) and Arabic version of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) were done for all patients. According to BBS, 44.7% of the studied patients had no suicide ideation, 34.0% had passive suicide ideation, 11.7% had active suicide ideation and 9.6% had both passive and active suicidal ideation at the time of study. It was concluded that suicidal risk is high among schizophrenic patients. Marital status, onset and duration of schizophrenia, history of undergoing ECT, depressed mood and sense of hopelessness were found to have a strong association with suicide ideation.