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The Prevalence of Suicide Attempts and Independent Demographic and Clinical Correlates among Chronic Schizophrenia Patients in Agricultural Areas of China

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Abstract

This study investigated the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts (SA) and independent demographic and clinical correlates in stabilized schizophrenia inpatients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three psychiatric hospitals in Anhui province, an agricultural province located in east China. Psychopathology and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), respectively. A total of 315 stable schizophrenia inpatients were interviewed prior to discharge. The lifetime prevalence of SA was 22.2%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (P < 0.001, OR = 3.4, 95%CI: 1.9–6.0), being married (P = 0.02, OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.1–4.4) and having more severe depressive symptoms (P = 0.014, OR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.01–1.3) were independently and significantly associated with higher risk of SA. Lifetime SA is common among hospitalized schizophrenia patients living in agricultural areas of China. For suicide prevention, regular assessments, appropriate interventions and clinical management should be integrated into a community-based psychiatric service model for this population.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81771449), the Anhui Province Key Scientific and Technological Projects (1804 h08020263).

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Author notes

  1. Yi Zhong, Lei Xia and Tong-Tong Zhao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 64 Chaohu North Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, China

    Yi Zhong, Lei Xia, Tong-Tong Zhao, Yu-Long Zhang, Ye-Lei Zhang & Huan-Zhong Liu

  2. Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province, China

    Yi Zhong, Lei Xia, Tong-Tong Zhao, Yu-Long Zhang, Ye-Lei Zhang, Wen-Zheng Li & Huan-Zhong Liu

  3. Hefei Fourth People’s Hospital, Anhui Province, China

    Wen-Zheng Li & Yan-Qiong Hu

  4. MaAnshan Fourth People’s Hospital, Anhui Province, China

    Xian-Hu Yao

  5. The University of Notre Dame Australia / Graylands Hospital, Perth, Australia

    Gabor S. Ungvari

  6. Division of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Gabor S. Ungvari

  7. Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Lloyd Balbuena

  8. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 3/F, Building E12, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, SAR, China

    Yu-Tao Xiang

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  1. Yi Zhong
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Correspondence to Huan-Zhong Liu or Yu-Tao Xiang.

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Zhong, Y., Xia, L., Zhao, TT. et al. The Prevalence of Suicide Attempts and Independent Demographic and Clinical Correlates among Chronic Schizophrenia Patients in Agricultural Areas of China. Psychiatr Q 90, 683–691 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-019-09644-1

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