Predictors and Outcome Characteristics Associated With Suicidal Behaviour in Early Psychosis: a Two-Year Follow-Up of First-Admitted Subjects

65 first-admitted subjects with psychosis were assessed at 6-month intervals over a 2-year follow-up to investigate the baseline characteristics associated with a greater risk of suicidal behaviour & the associations between suicidality & outcome. Over the follow-up period, 11.3% of the patients displayed suicidal behaviour. Baseline predictors of suicidal behaviour were a lifetime history of parasuicide before first admission, lower Positive & Negative Symptom Scale positive subscores, & a longer duration of first admission. Subjects with suicidal behaviour presented with a longer duration of pscyhotic symptoms & a greater risk of being readmitted. Subjects with substance misuse over the follow-up period were 7 times more likely to engage in suicidal behaviour. (37 refs.)