The changes and the predictors of suicide ideation and suicide attempt among HIV‐positive patients at 6–12 months post diagnosis: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Aims: This study examined the changes and the predictors of suicide ideation/suicide attempt and the moderating effects of psychosocial factors on the suicide ideation/suicide attempts among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients at 6-12 months post-diagnosis. Background: Suicide behaviours are prevalent among newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients, but the changes in suicide behaviours after diagnosis and the role of psychosocial factors in these behaviours are not well studied. Design: This study used a prospective longitudinal design. Methods: A total of 113 participants diagnosed as HIV-positive for 6-12 months were recruited from the outpatient department. Data were collected from June 2015 -October 2016. They were asked to complete Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Body Image Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support at baseline, the third month and the sixth month. Results:The results showed the high occurrence rates for suicide ideation ranging from 27.2%, 21.6%, and 25.8% and suicide attempt ranging from 14.7%, 8.6%, and 13.3% at the baseline, the third month and the sixth month, respectively. The education level, social support from family and depressive symptoms were the predictors of suicide ideation. The history of depression disorders, depressive symptoms and social support from friends significantly predicted suicide attempt. Meaning in life-presence moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicide ideation.

The Presence and the Search Constructs of Meaning in Life in Suicidal Patients Attending a Psychiatric Emergency Department

“…No significant correlation was found between the search for MiL construct and SI/SA. Previous studies that have addressed this issue (15)(16)(17)(18) reported similar results in that the presence of MiL construct was negatively associated with SB, particularly with SI. This also included a protective function of the presence of MiL construct on SA (16), but this could not be confirmed in our study since the absence of a non-suicidal control group negated a definitive conclusion.…”

“…To our knowledge, only four studies have investigated the roles of both constructs of MiL in the development of suicidal behavior (SB) [ (15)(16)(17)(18); for a review, see (19)]. These studies were performed in undergraduate students (16), military personnel and veterans (15,16,18), and HIV-positive patients (17). All of these studies have reported that the presence of MiL has a protective function on SB, directly or through mediationmoderation models.…”

“…All of these studies have reported that the presence of MiL has a protective function on SB, directly or through mediationmoderation models. Data describing search for MiL were less consistent but generally not associated with protection against SB (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Although only a limited number of studies have reported on MiL in relation to SB, more research is available on MiL in those who live with chronic pain.…”

The Meaning in Life in Suicidal Patients: The Presence and the Search for Constructs. A Systematic Review

“…Among military personnel and veterans with severe PTSD and depression, the presence of MiL negatively mediated the relationship between PTSD or depression and the trajectory leading from the emergence of SI to SA [58]. The presence of MiL was found to moderate the association between depressive symptoms and SI but not the association between depressive symptoms and SA in HIV-positive patients 6 to 12 months following diagnosis [59]. Data for completed suicides were not available.…”

“…In a clinical non-psychiatric cohort of HIV-positive patients surveyed 6 and 12 months after diagnosis (a population at high risk for both SI and SA), Lu and colleagues [59] reported that depressive symptoms were the primary predictors of changes in both SI and SA. Among the examined psychosocial factors, they found that only the presence of MiL buffered the relationship between depressive symptoms and SI.…”