Table 2 Suicide and Covid-19 in subjects with pre-existing mental disorder, longitudinal studies general population.

Batterham et al. 2022

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal ideation in a representative Australian population sample–Longitudinal cohort study

Australia

1296 subjects

Nationally representative sample of Australian adults. Regarding history of mental illness 246 (19.0%) had a past diagnosis 310 (23.9%) had a current diagnosis

Mean age of the sample: 46.0 years; 50.1% female

To assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation in a representative population-based sample in the first 12 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, to assess the persistence of suicidal ideation using long-term follow-up data, and, to assess relationships between indirect effects of the pandemic (financial, social, employment) on suicidal ideation, while accounting for demographic factors

Suicidal ideation assessed according to the suicidal item of Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9

Longitudinal survey

From late-March to June 2020

Current diagnosis of mental illness was associated with double the risk of suicidal ideation, while past diagnosis was associated with a 38% increase in risk. However, past mental health diagnosis was not significantly associated with incident suicidal ideation

Fountoulakis et al. 2021

Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study

40 countries: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras,

Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania,

Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria,

Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, USA

55,589 subjects from 40 countries

International general population sample

Any mental disorder history was present in 25.25% of the sample

7.85% had a prior history of an anxiety disorder,

12.57% of depression, 1.16% of bipolar disorder,

0.97% of psychosis and 2.70% of other mental disorder. At least once, 21.44% had hurt themselves in the past and 10.59% had attempted at least once in the past

Mean age of the sample: 35.80 years females,

34.90 years males,

other 31.64 years;

64.85% females, 34.05% males and 1.10% other

To investigate the rates of distress, probable depression and suicidality and their changes in the adult population aged 18–69 internationally, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Suicide risk assessed using Risk assessment suicidality scale (RASS)

Multiple Forward Stepwise Linear Regression Analysis,

Longitudinal study

In 2019, data collected from June 3 through July 12

In 2020, data collected from August 3 through November 13

Multiple forward stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that a broad number of variables acted either as risk or as protective factors accounting for the 4,7% change in suicidal behavior. Suffering from a previous mental condition acted as a risk factor and suicidal behavior resulted increased in those people during pandemic

Nichter

et al. 2021

Prevalence and Trends in Suicidal Behavior Among US Military Veterans During the COVID-19 Pandemic

USA

3078 US veterans

Population-based cohort of US military veterans In the no suicide ideation group: 387 (16,3%) have a lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or major depressive disorder (MDD), 1017 (39,3%) have alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or drug use disorder (DUD)

In the new-onset suicide ideation group:

34 (52.9%) have a lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or major depressive disorder (MDD), 52 (63.8%) have alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or drug use disorder (DUD)

Mean age of the sample: 63.2 years; mostly male 2734 (91.6%)

To examine longitudinal changes in suicidal behavior from before the COVID-19 pandemic to nearly 10 months into the pandemic and identify risk factors and COVID-related variables associated with new-onset suicide ideation (SI)

Suicide behavior assessed trough the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)

Population-based prospective cohort study,

Longitudinal study

From November 18, 2019, to December 19, 2020

Rates of suicide ideation and suicide attempts did not significantly increase from pre-pandemic to peripandemic at the population level. However, a small proportion of veterans (2.6%) developed new-onset suicide ideation during the pandemic

Among the strongest risk factors and COVID-19-related variables for new-onset suicide ideation were suicide attempt history, lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder and/or depression, and past-year alcohol use disorder severity

Na et al. 2021

Mental health and suicidal ideation in US military veterans with histories of COVID-19 infection

USA

3078 veterans

Nationally representative, prospective cohort of US veterans. 233 veterans (8.6%) reported having been infected with SARS-CoV2. Relative to veterans who were not infected, veterans who were infected were more likely to screen positive for internalizing disorders (major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and/or pandemic-related stress symptoms) 20.5% vs 13.9%, externalizing disorders (alcohol and/or drug use disorder) 23.2% vs 14.8% and current suicidal ideation 12.0% vs 7.6% at peripandemic

Mean age of the sample:

62.2 years; the majority was male (90.2%)

To date, the prevalence, risk and protective factors of psychiatric conditions among US military veterans who survived COVID-19

Suicidal ideation assessed according to the suicidal item of Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9

Prospective, Longitudinal survey cohort,

Longitudinal study

From pre-pandemic survey (median completion date: 21 November 2019),

to peripandemic 1-year follow-up assessment (median completion date 14 November 2020)

Pre-pandemic alcohol use severity, past-year suicidal ideation, loneliness, impulsivity, perceived social support and having a household member infected with SARS-CoV2 were independent risk factors for peripandemic suicidal ideation, whereas greater protective psychosocial characteristic

Greater pre-pandemic psychiatric symptoms severity, were independent risk factors for peripandemic internalizing psychiatric disorders

Fountoulakis et al. 2021

Self-reported changes in anxiety, depression and suicidality during the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece

Greece

3399 subjects

Nationwide representative sample of the general population. History of any mental disorder reported by 29.60%, with history of depression being the most frequent (26.92%)

Psychotic disorders (0.49%),

Bipolar disorder (0.12%),

Eating disorders (0.11%) and Substance abuse disorder (0.02%) were rather rare, but within the expected range

Mean age of the sample:

female 34.02 years, males 36.38 years;

81.08% females, 18.27% males

To investigate the rate of clinical depression in the adult population aged 18–69 in Greece, during the period of the lockdown. To investigate the changes in anxiety, distress, suicidal ideation and their relations with a number of personal and interpersonal/social variables. The aim also included the investigation of the spreading of conspiracy theory beliefs concerning the COVID-19 outbreak

Suicide risk assessed using Risk assessment suicidality scale (RASS)

Multiple Forward Stepwise Linear Regression Analysis, Longitudinal study

From April 11th to May 1st, 2020

Suicidal thoughts increased in 10.40% and decreased in 4.42%. Comparison of cases without vs those with a previous history of depression in terms of the changes in suicidal thoughts suggested that the two groups differed in any increase in suicidal ideation (8.39% vs. 15.66%). Comparison of the numbers of cases without vs. those with a previous history of suicide attempts in terms of changes in current suicidal ideation suggested that the two groups differed in any increase in suicidal ideation (9.96% vs. 23.19%). Previous history of depression, self-harm and suicidal attempts act a risk factors in the develop of depression and, eventually, to suicidality