An Examination of DSM-IV Depressive Symptoms and Risk for Suicide Completion in Major Depressive Disorder: a Psychological Autopsy Study

A psychological autopsy method with best informants was used to investigate DSM-IV depressive symptoms among 156 people who died by suicide in the context of a major depressive episode & 81 major depressive controls. Suicide victims’ depressive symptoms were more likely to include weight or appetite loss, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt as well as recurrent thoughts of death or suicide ideation. Fatigue & difficulties concentrating or indeciveness were less prevalent among depressed suicides. These associations were independent of concomitant axis I & II psychopathology. (28 refs.)