The Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in a sample of psychiatric patients: a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) (Joiner, 2005) is one of the most recent models that can explain suicide risk in psychiatric patients. Objective: We investigated the risk factors associated with lifetime suicide attempts (SA) and current suicidal ideation (SI), in 32 psychiatric patients recruited in two therapeutic communities of Lombardy, in Italy. Methods: We assessed through questionnaires socio-demographic, clinical, psychosocial and somatic pain measures, testing the differences between subjects with and without lifetime SA and with and without current SI. From the comparison and consistently with the theory, we inserted variables in regressions models. Results: Some of the features (e.g. anxiety, psychological pain and Thwarted Belongingness (TB)) were associated with both SA and SI. Concerning regression models, Survival and Coping Beliefs (SCB) reduced the likelihood of SA and current SI levels. Beyond TB, mental and physical pain, SCB and Perceived Burdensomeness explained respectively 20.8% and 21.8% of the total variance of SI. Conclusions: Significant clinical implications have emerged as the identified suicidal risk factors, according to IPTS, could inform risk assessment, prevention and treatment in psychiatric patients.