Anxiety and Other Predictors of Severity of Suicidal Intent in Urban Psychiatric Inpatients

A pilot study examined suicidal intent, anxiety, depressive symptoms, & associated constructs among 32 urban psychiatric inpatients with low socioeconomic status. Results indicated that trait anxiety, overall level of psychopathology & a negative world view predicted the seriousness of suicidal intent. State anxiety was not correlated with suicidal intent. Findings suggest that a pervasive experience of worry & fear is a more significant predictor of suicidal intent than is depession. (10 refs.)