Relationship between Suicidality and Low Self-esteem in Patients with Schizophrenia.
10.9758/cpn.2015.13.3.296
- Author:
Taeyoung YOO
1
;
Sung Wan KIM
;
Seon Young KIM
;
Ju Yeon LEE
;
Hee Ju KANG
;
Kyung Yeol BAE
;
Jae Min KIM
;
Il Seon SHIN
;
Jin Sang YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. swkim@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Schizophrenia;
Suicide;
Self-esteem;
Stigma;
Depression
- MeSH:
Depression;
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
Humans;
Prospective Studies;
Psychopathology;
Schizophrenia*;
Suicide;
Suicide, Attempted
- From:Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
2015;13(3):296-301
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Low self-esteem is associated with suicide risk in the general psychiatric population. The aim of this study was to examine associations between suicidality and self-esteem in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Subjects meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, including previous suicide attempt history, were assessed. Psychopathology, self-esteem, and self-perceived stigma were also measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Korean version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (K-ISMI). RESULTS: Of the total of 87 participants, 20 (23.0%) had attempted suicide. Patients with a history of suicide attempts had significantly higher scores on the BDI (p=0.036) and K-ISMI (p=0.009), and significantly lower scores on the SES (p=0.001). Analysis of covariance revealed that the SES scores were significantly lower in patients with a history of previous suicide attempts than in those with no history, after controlling for K-ISMI and BDI scores (p=0.039). CONCLUSION: Low self-esteem appears to represent a psychological dimension that is closely related to suicide risk. Therefore, clinical attention should be paid to the evaluation and enhancement of low self-esteem in schizophrenia patients with suicidality. A longitudinal prospective study is required to ascertain whether low self-esteem leads suicide attempts.
