Abstract
Objective
To analyze the clinical aspects and factors associated with suicidal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
Cross-sectional analytical study performed with care records of 130 patients who sought care in the psychiatric emergency department after suicidal ideation, planning or attempt. A form was used for sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic characterization, and for identification of care needs and associated factors. Data analysis consisted of Fischer’s exact test, Pearson’s chi-square test and Poisson’s regression, considering a significance level of 5%.
Results
Suicidal behavior was expressed by suicide attempt, ideation and planning. It was predominant in the female sex, young adults, unemployed, with low family income, and in patients with a history of mental disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, previous attempts and of therapeutic abandonment. The main psychic alterations involved anxiety, depression, feelings of hopelessness, audiovisual hallucinations and persecutory delusions. The consumption of psychoactive substances increased by up to 13.8 times the risk for suicide attempt, while situational crises increased suicidal ideation by up to 10.6 times. The loss of income and previous hospitalization were associated with manifestation of the behavior. Evidence of care involved drug interventions, surveillance measures, and hospital admission.
Conclusion
During the COVID-19 pandemic, suicidal behavior was associated with a greater predisposition to consume psychoactive substances, situational crises and loss of income. The need for public policies aimed at the identification, prevention and adequate management of risk states stands out.
Suicide; Suicide, attempted; Suicidal ideation; COVID-19; Risk factors