New research published in Affective Disorder Journal This study aimed to explore the relationship between feelings of blockage, social problem-solving skills, and suicidal behavior in depressed patients over adulthood. The findings indicate that feelings of blockage and social problem-solving skills are both associated with suicide, but have greater impact at different points in life.
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Suicide is a major public health concern, and depression is a significant risk factor for suicidal behavior. Previous research suggests that feelings of isolation and poor social problem-solving skills may contribute to suicidal behavior. Confinement is defined as the perception of being trapped in an intolerable situation that can lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and ultimately suicidal ideation and behavior.
Social problem-solving skills refer to the ability to identify and evaluate potential solutions to problems and to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of those solutions. People who lack these skills can feel stuck in difficult situations, leading to feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.
Previous studies have explored the relationship between confinement, social problem-solving skills, and suicidal behavior, but little is known about how these factors interact throughout adulthood. The authors of a new study argue that understanding the complex interplay between these factors is essential to developing effective interventions to prevent suicidal behavior in depressed patients.
The study involved 1,162 depressed patients recruited from inpatient psychiatric wards, outpatient clinics, ADs, and primary care providers. Participants’ demographic, diagnostic, and clinical information were collected through structured interviews and self-reports. Psychological diagnosis was made using a structured clinical interview for DSM disorders, and the Cumulative Disease Rating Scale assessed lifelong physical illness burden.
This study used statistical analysis to examine the relationship between feelings of blockage, social problem-solving skills, and suicidal behavior while controlling for depression severity and other demographic and clinical factors.
Their findings show that feelings of isolation and poor social problem-solving skills are highly associated with suicidal behavior. However, the relationship between these factors and suicidal behavior changed over the course of adult life. Specifically, feelings of blockage were more strongly associated with suicidal behavior in young adults, and poor social problem-solving skills were more strongly associated with suicidal behavior in older adults. The study also found that women were more likely to report feeling trapped, while men were more likely to report poor social problem-solving skills.
It is acknowledged that this study has several limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. First, the study is based on self-reported measures of closedness and social problem-solving skills, which can be influenced by prejudice. Second, the study is cross-sectional, meaning that causality cannot be established. Third, this study only included depressed patients, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other populations.
The results of this study reveal that feelings of blockage and poor social problem-solving skills are essential for understanding suicidal behavior in depressed patients. The findings also highlight the importance of considering age and gender when examining the relationship between these factors and suicidal behavior. The researchers suggest that interventions aimed at reducing feelings of blockage and improving social problem-solving skills may effectively prevent suicidal behavior in depressed patients.
the study, “Traps and Social Problem Solving in Suicidal Behavior Across Adulthood‘ by C. Wang, JG Keilp, H. Galfalvy, JA Bridge, AH Sheftall, and K. Szanto.
