Many things can cause suicidal ideation in people – from the feeling of lost hope and life difficulties to psychiatric disorders. Suicidal ideation does not happen by chance – there are always underlying causes that make people start thinking of suicide.
What are the psychiatric disorders that can cause suicidal ideation?
Psychiatric disorders are medical conditions that affect behavior, thinking, and mood. The following psychiatric disorders have a common link with suicidal ideation:
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety disorders (this includes post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder)
- Personality disorders
Depression
Depression is a psychological health issue marked by persistent sadness and loss of interest. Even though most people who suffer from depression do not commit suicide, being depressed increases the risk of suicidal ideation compared to people who do not suffer from depression.
The severity of the depression has a link with the level of suicide contemplation by people who are depressed. While approximately 7% of men with a history of depression may think of committing suicide throughout their lifetime, only 1% of women with a depression history contemplate suicide.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is connected to severe mood swings – ranging from extreme highs to depressive lows. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. A psychiatric medical report states that the majority of individuals with bipolar disorder experience suicidal ideation at least once in their lifetime.
Medical studies also suggest that suicidal ideation mostly happens in people with major psychological disorders like bipolar disorder. According to the study, most people who committed suicide lived with suicidal thoughts for a long time.
These are some of the factors proven to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in patients who have bipolar disorders:
- The early stage of bipolar disorder
- Family history of mood disorder and suicide
- Long duration of untreated mental illness
- A history of previous suicide attempts
- Aggressive and impulsive traits
- Frequent hospitalizations
- Unemployment and occupational problems
- Adversities in personal history, like childhood trauma
Also, people with bipolar disorder usually harbor thoughts of committing suicide just after being admitted to the psychiatric hospital, the time after the clinical psychiatrists discharge them from the psychiatric hospital, and the early years after they are diagnosed with the medical condition.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
According to the National Health Service (NHS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric medical condition that describes an extended response to a disturbing event or situation of a destructive or threatening nature. Medical psychiatrists postulate that PTSD can cause suicidal ideation in people with PTSD, especially when their condition has become severe and they are not getting the necessary help they need.
The risk of suicide or suicidal contemplation is higher in people with PTSD and poorly controlled anger, pre-trauma psychiatric conditions, distressing trauma memories, bad impulse control, and concurrent depression. In addition, people with PTSD are likely to be unable to express feelings, increasing the chances of them experiencing suicidal ideation.
Final Thoughts
Reports show that a higher percentage of patients with cases of attempted suicide have psychiatric disorders. People with psychiatric disorders are more prone to think of suicide as a way to end their condition than patients with simple disorders. However, ketamine infusion therapy has been shown to decrease suicidal ideation across mood disorders. If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal ideation, contact us today to learn about how we can help.
