Article Text
Abstract
Background A suicide attempt is an of self inflicted damage accompanied by explicit or implicit to cause death. Although only 1 in 8-10 people who attempt suicide are successful, it remains a leading cause of death. Chronic diseases is an important risk factor for suicide. Systemic lupus erytemathosus (SLE) is a risk factor five times greater than healthy people. Many factors can contribute to this occurrence, such as mood disorders (anxiety and depression), disease activity, corticosteroids, wich can induce mental disorder.
Objectives To asses the risk of suicide in patients with SLE and to determine associated factors such as anxiety and depression.
Methods We performed a cross-sectional study including 55 consecutive SLE patients, treated at the Rheumatology Unit of The State UNiversity of Campinas. Psychological features (anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts) were assessed through a clinical interview using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (Mini), validated in Portuguese.
Results The average age of the patients was 33 years (SD=12.8, variance: 14-63). Thirteen/55 (23,63%) patients wished to be dead, and 8/13 (51,63%) of these patients had moderate/severe anxiety and depression. Four/55 (7.27%) already thought of a way to commit suicide and 1/55 (1,82%) and 4/55 (7,27%) reported having attempted suicide at some point in life. All these patients had severe anxiety and/or depression.
Conclusions The increased levels of anxiety and depression is commonly is SLE patients. Anxiety and depression affect the overall functioning of the individual and the degree of disability, since it can produce a negative impact on the physical, social, occupational, educational and leisure due to apathy, decreased affection, feelings of abandonment and negative beliefs about the future. So these are factors that must be observed at each visit in order to advise and intervene in possible damage.
Disclosure of Interest C. Belmira de Souza Grant/Research support from: FAPESP 2010/18517-1, A. Ferrari Grant/Research support from: FAPESP 2011/13905-6, M. Pereira: None Declared, L. Abreu: None Declared, K. Pereira: None Declared, L. Costallat: None Declared, S. Appenzeller Grant/Research support from: FAPESP 2008/02917-0; Conselho Nacional Pesquisa Desenvolvimento-Brasil CNPq (300447/2009-4)