HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by NORDENTOFT, M. Articles by JØRGENSEN, P. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by NORDENTOFT, M. Articles by JØRGENSEN, P.

OPUS study: suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation and hopelessness among patients with first-episode psychosis

One-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial^*

Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

P. KASSOW, MD

Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital, Denmark

L. PETERSEN, CPsych and A. THORUP, MD

Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen

G. KRARUP, MD

Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital

R. HEMMINGSEN, DMSc

Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen

P. JØRGENSEN, DMSc

Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital

Correspondence: Dr Merete Nordentoft, Department of Psychiatry E, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV. E-mail: Mereke.Nordentoft{at}dadlnet.dk

Declaration of interest The Danish Ministry of Health, Danish Ministry of Social Affairs, Danish Medical Research Council, Copenhagen Hospital Corporation, Aarhus County and University of Copenhagen have jointly funded the OPUS project.

^* Presented in part at the European First Episode Schizophrenia Network Meeting, Whistler BC, Canada, 27 April 2001.

Background Patients with first-episode psychosis comprise a high-risk group in terms of suicide.

Aims To identify predictive factors for suicidal behaviour and to examine the effect of integrated treatment on suicidal behaviour and hopelessness.

Method A total of 341 patients with a first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder were randomised to integrated treatment or treatment as usual.

Results During the 1-year follow-up period, 11% attempted suicide. This was associated with female gender, hopelessness, hallucinations and suicide attempt reported at baseline, with the two latter variables being the only significant ones in the final multivariate model. The integrated treatment reduced hopelessness.

Conclusions Hallucinations and suicide attempt before inclusion in the study were the most significant predictors of suicide attempt in the follow-up period.