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BELIEFS ABOUT ILLNESS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HOPELESSNESS, DEPRESSION, INSIGHT AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Francisco J. Acosta ; Mental Health Research Program, Service of Mental Health, General Health Care Programs Direction, Canary Health Service, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Eduardo J. Aguilar ; University Clinic Hospital of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, CIBERSAM, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental, Spain
Maria R. Cejas ; Psychiatry Department, Canary Islands University Hospital, Tenerife, Spain
Ramón Gracia ; Psychiatry Department, Canary Islands University Hospital, and University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

Sažetak

Background: Although the negative appraisals of the illness may be related to suicidal thinking and behaviours in
schizophrenia, this has been insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between schizophrenic
patients' cognitions about their illness and past suicidal behaviours. The relationship between patients' beliefs about their illness
with potential mediators of suicidal behaviours such as depressive symptoms, hopelessness and insight was also investigated.
Subjects and methods: A group of 60 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria belonging to a followup
study were assessed one year after their last psychiatric admission. Psychopathological variables were assessed by the Calgary
Depression Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale and the first three items of the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder. The
appraisals of the illness were assessed by the Personal Beliefs about Illness Questionnaire.
Results: Negative appraisals were associated with hopelessness and depressive symptoms. Negative expectations and stigma
showed the strongest associations. Contrary to our expectations, this scale was not able to differentiate between patients with and
without past suicidal behaviour.
Conclusions: Negative appraisals of the illness in patients with schizophrenia seem to have psychopathological consequences
such as greater hopelessness and depression. Since these psychopathological features are linked to suicidal risk, the
psychotherapeutic approach counteracting negative beliefs about the illness may reduce the risk of suicide.

Ključne riječi

schizophrenia - suicide attempt - beliefs about illness - hopelessness

Hrčak ID:

159844

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/159844

Datum izdavanja:

4.3.2013.

Posjeta: 801 *