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| Anxiety missing link in suicide |
16-Nov-2005 |
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by Bianca Nogrady
ANXIETY disorders have been identified as independent and significant risk factors for suicidal behaviour, highlighting a new target in suicide prevention.
Patients with conditions such as panic disorder, phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were at double the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared with the general population.
However, in patients with a pre-existing mood disorder, the addition of an anxiety disorder increased their risk of suicidal behaviour 17-fold, according to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry (November).
“These findings contribute to resolving the contentious issue of whether anxiety disorders are risk factors for suicidal behaviour,” researchers wrote.
“Together with strong evidence that anxiety disorders are highly under-recognised and undertreated in the community and primary care, the current findings suggest that untreated anxiety disorders might be missed opportunities for preventing suicidal behaviour,” they wrote.
The Danish study of 4769 people found panic disorder, agoraphobia without panic and simple phobia were more strongly associated with suicide attempts, while patients with OCD, social phobia and generalised anxiety disorder were more likely to experience suicidal ideation.
Professor Diego de Leo, professor of psychiatry and director of the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, said the study was the “missing link” in suicide research, providing longitudinal confirmation of a suspected association between anxiety and suicidal behaviour.
He said it highlighted the need to pay attention to anxiety and consider it as a second target after depression in preventing suicidal behaviour.
The study also justified more aggressive management of anxiety disorders, particularly when they occurred in combination with mood disorders.
These patients could benefit from pharmacological treatments such as paroxetine or low-dose neuroleptics, but psychotherapy should also be encouraged, Professor de Leo said.
Archives of General Psychiatry 2005; 62:1249-57.
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