OPUS study: suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation and hopelessness among patients with first-episode psychosis. One-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND:

Patients with first-episode psychosis comprise a high-risk group in terms of suicide.

AIMS:

To identify predictive factors for suicidal behaviour and to examine the effect of integrated treatment on suicidal behaviour and hopelessness.

METHOD:

A total of 341 patients with a first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder were randomised to integrated treatment or treatment as usual.

RESULTS:

During the 1-year follow-up period, 11% attempted suicide. This was associated with female gender, hopelessness, hallucinations and suicide attempt reported at baseline, with the two latter variables being the only significant ones in the final multivariate model. The integrated treatment reduced hopelessness.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hallucinations and suicide attempt before inclusion in the study were the most significant predictors of suicide attempt in the follow-up period.