Table 5 Suicide and Covid-19 in subjects with pre-existing mental disorder, other studies

Hedley et

al. 2021

The association between COVID-19, personal wellbeing, depression, and suicide risk factors in Australian autistic adults

La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

111 Autistic patients

Autistic adults aged 20 to 71 years during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

Co‐occurring diagnoses of anxiety or depression were reported

by 70% (73, 71, respectively) of participants

Mean age of the sample:

42.45 years; 58,6% women and 32,4% men

To examine potential associations between COVID-19 impact and depression, personal wellbeing, and suicide risk factors in Australian autistic adults and age and gender effects

Suicide risk assessed using Suicide Behavior Questionnaire

Revised

(SBQ-R)

Mixed‐method survey design

Between October and December 2020

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with poorer wellbeing and higher depression but is not associated with suicide risk in this autistic adults’ sample

Carlin et. al 2021

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on suicide attempts

A retrospective analysis of the springtime admissions to the trauma resuscitation room at the Medical University of Vienna from 2015–2020

Trauma Centre of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

559 admissions;

79 in 2015; 87 in 2016; 110 in 2017; 109 in 2018; 109 in 2019; 65 in 2020

Patients admitted to the trauma resuscitation room. Number of patients in the control group was 37, in the study group 23. Patients with known psychiatric disease were 32 (86.5%) in the control group and 19 (82.6%) in the study group. Patients with history of previous suicide attempt were 13 (35.1%) in the control group and 9 (39.1%) in the study group

Mean age of the sample:

43,2 years in the control group; 38.7 years in the study group; majority being male in both groups

To analyze how many of the patients admitted to the trauma resuscitation room of the level 1 Trauma Centre of the Medical University of Vienna during the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria injured due to a suicide attempt by intentionally caused trauma

Retrospective data analysis. Patients subdivided into trauma victims and individuals who had attempted suicide

Mixed‐method,

Case–control, Cross-sectional study

From 16 March to 15 May in the years 2015–2019

The study revealed a significantly higher proportion of attempted suicides in all patients admitted to the trauma resuscitation room

Due to the small number of patients in the study group an increase in suicidal behavior isolated for individuals with previous mental health problems could not be observed, but more generally an increase in suicidality across different groups at risk

Czeisler et al. 2021

Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during a prolonged COVID-19-related lockdown in a region with low SARS-CoV-2 prevalence

Victoria region, Australia

1531 subjects

Victorians who completed the surveys

History of diagnosed psychiatric condition was present in:

123 subjects (37.1%) in the Victorian-April group;

435 subjects (37.6%) in the Victorian-September group;

38 subjects (41,4%) in the Victorian-Longitudinal group

Age range of the sample:

Age range in the Victorian-April group:

18–24: 42 (12.8%);

25–44: 123

(10.6%);

45–64: 105 (31.7%);

 ≥ 65: 61 (18,4%); Age range in the Victorian-September group:

18–24: 123 (10.6%);

25–44: 436

(37.6%);

45–64: 379 (32.8%);

 ≥ 65: 219 (18.9%);

Age range in the Victorian-Longitudinal group:

18–24: 11 (12.3%);

25–44: 34

(36.5%);

45–64: 29 (31.1%);

 ≥ 65: 19 (20.2%)

To analyze the associations between adverse mental and behavioral health symptoms and demographic characteristics, sleep, and behavioral changes, with the aim of identifying areas for targeted interventions to improve mental health

Data collection including past-month passive suicidal ideation (i.e., wished to be dead), and past-month serious suicidal ideation

Mixed‐method

Longitudinal, cross-sectional survey

During

April 2–8, 2020 (April-2020) and September 15–24, 2020

Suicidal ideation was nearly three times as prevalent among respondents with vs without previously diagnosed psychiatric conditions. Diagnosed psychiatric disorder was associated with poor outcomes, including suicidal ideation, during COVID-19 pandemic

Hyland

et al. 2021

Predicting risk along the suicidality continuum: A longitudinal, nationally representative study of the Irish population during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Ireland

1,032 subjects

715 who completed the follow-up

Nationally representative sample of Irish adults

Some participants reported a history of mental health treatment

Mean age of the sample:

44.86 years;

52.1% female

To analyze the lifetime prevalence of different indicators of suicidality in the Irish general population; whether suicidality has increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic; and what factors associated with belonging to different points on a continuum of suicidality risk

Three items were adapted from the 2014 English Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey to measure suicidal and self‐harm ideation

Mixed‐method

Longitudinal, cross-sectional survey

May 2020 and a follow‐up in August 2020

There was no statistically significant change over time in suicidal behavior. Suicidal ideation was not associate with been treated for a mental health problem. Those who treated for a mental health problem were over twice as likely as those with no such history to have engaged in non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI). Among variables significantly associated with attempted suicide there was having received treatment for a mental health problem

Veldhuis

et al. 2021

Addressing the critical need for long-term mental health data during the COVID-19 pandemic: Changes in mental health from April to September 2020

USA and more than 50 other countries

1567 subjects

Longitudinal data from an international convenience sample of adults 18 or older living in every US state and more than 50 countries who completed baseline surveys and the 5-month follow-up. 58.9% received a mental health diagnosis. Participants who reported depression, anxiety, or PTSD were considered to have a previous relevant mental health diagnosis

Age range of the sample:

18–30: 38.0%; 31–40: 31.8%;

41–50: 14.2%; 51–65: 12.3%; 66 + : 3.7%;

Women

88.2%

To better understand the longer-term effects of the pandemic on mental health

Suicide risk was measured using the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) which measures thoughts and behaviors and provides an assessment of risk (scores of 21 or higher are considered severe risk and 10 or higher is considered to be some risk)

Mixed‐method

Longitudinal, cross-sectional survey

Baseline surveys during

April 5–19, 2020;

5-month follow-up (August 28–September 11, 2020

Baseline risk for suicide was associated with 12 times higher odds of risk for suicide at 5-month follow-up. Having received a mental health diagnosis was associated with suicide risk at 5-month follow-up

Hamm

et al. 2020

Experiences of American Older Adults with Pre-existing Depression During the Beginnings of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicity, Mixed-Methods Study

Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and St Louis, USA

73 older adults with pre-existing Major depressive disorder

Community-living older adults with pre-existing Major depressive disorder (MDD) recruited among the 743 participants in the Optimizing Outcomes of Treatment-Resistant Depression in Older Adults (OPTIMUM) clinical trial

Mean age of the sample:

69 years;

50 females (68.5%)

To determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of older adults with pre-existing major depressive disorder (MDD)

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

Multicity, Mixed-Methods Study

Between April 1 and April 23, 2020

Examination of PHQ-9 item 9 (thoughts of death or self-harm) revealed no increase in suicidal thoughts. Of 72 with scores available in the immediate peripandemic period, 59 (82%) had no thoughts of death (score of 0) both beforehand and currently;

5 (7%) had current thoughts of death (all had score of 1) but none beforehand; while 7 (10%) had reduced thoughts of death currently compared to before the pandemic (score of 0 currently vs. 1 beforehand in 5 participants, score of 1 currently vs. 3 beforehand in 2);

1 refused to answer

Knipe et

al. 2022

Hospital presentations for self-poisoning during COVID-19 in Sri Lanka: an interrupted time-series analysis

Teaching Hospital Peradeniya,

Sri Lanka

1401 individuals;

Pre-pandemic period (1161)

Pandemic period

(240)

Hospital admissions for self-poisoning. Subjects with a current psychiatric diagnosis were 535 in pre-pandemic period (46,1%) and 110 in pandemic period (45,8%)

Age range of the sample: Pre-pandemic period

 < 25 years were 603 (51,9%),

Pre-pandemic period ≥ 25 years were 546 (47,0%); Pandemic period

 < 25 years were 107 (44,6%), Pandemic period ≥ 25 years 117 (48,8%);

761 (54,3%) females

To determine the effect of the pandemic on hospital presentations for self-poisoning

Admission book data and information from bed head tickets were used to identify cases of self-poisoning (intentional self-harm by ingesting poison). Medical records used to retrieve all relevant information regarding the patient's stay, including any related history. The overall number of admissions per month were collected from the admission books and used to trace bed head tickets for detailed information regarding admissions (type of poison ingested)

Interrupted time-series analysis

Before (Jan 1, 2019–March 19, 2020) and during (March 20–Aug 31, 2020) the pandemic

A sudden drop in presentations for self-poisoning occurred at the start of the lockdown period; on average, there were more presentations in the pre-pandemic period than in the pandemic period. The time-series analysis indicated that there was a 32% reduction in hospital presentations for self-poisoning during the pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period. There was no statistical evidence that the impact of the pandemic differed regarding having a current psychiatric diagnosis

McDowell et al. 2021

Evaluating the association between COVID-19 and psychiatric presentations, suicidal ideation in an emergency department

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

2018–2019 Cohort (489)

2019–2020 Cohort (467)

Psychiatric Presentation in an emergency department

In the 2018–2019 Cohort, patients presenting with suicidal Ideation were 293 (59.9%),

substance use disorder were 202 (41.3%),

affective disorder were 172 (35.2%), psychotic disorder were 83 (17.0%);

In the 2019–2020 Cohort, patients presenting with suicidal Ideation were 274 (58.7%);

substance use disorder were 184 (39.4%);

affective disorder were 184 (39.4%); psychotic disorder were 57 (12.2%)

Mean age of the sample:

38 years in the 2018–2019 Cohort,

39 years in the 2019–2020 Cohort;

281 female (57.5%)

in the 2018–2019 Cohort; 301 female (58.0%) in the 2019–2020 Cohort

To estimate the association between

COVID-19 and Emergency Department (ED) psychiatric presentations, including suicidal ideation

The presence or absence of suicidal ideation as determined by text in the psychiatric consultation note, as well as up to three psychiatric diagnoses (not including SUDs), recorded for each patient presentation

Interrupted time-series analysis

Between 2018 and 2020, February 26–March 6, 2020 used to define patterns in psychiatric presentations before and after the coronavirus outbreak

Results estimate significant differential change associated with suicidal ideation and substance use disorder (SUD) presentations following the outbreak. Specifically, there were a significant differential increase in presentations with suicidal ideation six weeks after the outbreak (36.4 percentage points change)

For presentations with SUD, there were a differential increase in the COVID-19 time series relative to the comparison time series at all post-outbreak time points and this differential increase was significant three weeks (32.8 percentage points; 95% CI: 4.0, 61.6) following the outbreak. Moreover, SUD presentations seem to explain the increase in suicidal ideation presentations in week 3 in the unadjusted models. The results estimate no differential changes significant at the P value < 0.05 level associated with affective disorder or psychotic disorder presentations in the COVID-19 time series relative to the comparator time series

Oliè et al. 2021

Psychological state of a sample of patients with mood disorders during the first French COVID-19 lockdown

France

69 healthy controls (HC)

346 patients with a major depressive episode in the two previous years (PP)

Patients with history of depressive episodes and healthy controls. In the PP group: 44.5% (50) had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, 50% (174) lifetime history of suicide attempt, 62% (207) lifetime history of anxious disorder, 22.2% (74) alcohol abuse or dependence, 15.2% (51) illicit substance abuse or dependence, and 15.2% ( 51) an eating disorder

Mean age of the sample:

healthy controls (HC) 37 years, patients with a major depressive episode in the two previous years (PP) 39 years;

16 men (23.2%) healthy controls(HC)

,83 men (24%) patients with a major depressive episode in the two previous years (PP)

To compare in 69 healthy controls (HC) and 346 patients with a major depressive episode in the two previous years (PP) self-reported psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, insomnia, suicidal ideation, traumatic stress, anger) and living conditions during the first national French lockdown, and identify predictors of significant psychological distress in PP

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

Case–control study

From March, 17 to May 11, 2020

Current suicidal ideation (according to the suicidal item of Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) was reported by 26.6% of PP (92). Suicidal ideation was predicted by psychotropic drug changes, history of suicide attempt, high education level, and loneliness. Daily virtual contacts were protective against suicidal ideation

Louie et al. 2021

Suicidal Risk in Older Patients with Depression During COVID-19 Pandemic: a Case–Control Study

The University of Hong Kong,

Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

64;

31 healthy older adults,

33 adults with late-life depression (LLD)

Adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (single or recurrent episode) as defined by the DSM-5 recruited from psychiatric clinics or inpatient wards, whereas healthy older adults without a history of depression or other psychiatric illnesses were recruited from voluntary organizations or elderly community centers

Mean age of the sample:

74.45 years adults with late-life depression (LLD),

71.10 years controls;

21 men and 43 women aged 61 to 89 years

To compare older adults with late-life depression (LLD) and healthy controls in terms of suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine predictors of suicidal ideation

Suicide ideation assessed using Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale (GSIS)

Case control study

Between March and April 2020

The level of suicidal ideation was significantly higher in the LLD group than the healthy control group after adjusting for depressive symptoms. Older people with LLD had a significantly higher suicidal risk during the COVID- 19 pandemic

Hao et al. 2020

Do psychiatric patients experience more psychiatric symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown? A case–control study with service and research implications for immunopsychiatry

Chongqing, China

76

psychiatric patients

109 healthy control

An online questionnaire was administered via SMS to psychiatric patients from the databases of the First People’s Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area, China

The healthy control participants were recruited through convenient sampling

For psychiatric patients, majority of the respondents had mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (59%), followed by other anxiety disorders (25%) and major depressive disorder (16%)

Mean age of the sample:

32.8 years

Psychiatric patients,

33.1 years Healthy controls;

Psychiatric patients 51 Female (37.1%), Healthy controls 68 Female (62.4%)

To assess and compare the immediate stress and psychological impact experienced by people with and without psychiatric illnesses during the peak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic with strict lockdown measures

Structured questionnaire consisted of questions in which Suicide ideation was evaluated trough:

6- Other psychiatric symptoms

Case–control study

The psychiatric patients were recruited from 19 to 21 February 2020, and healthy control participants were recruited from 21 to 22 February 2020

Nine (11.8%) psychiatric patients and 1 (0.9%) healthy control reported moderate to severe suicidal ideation

Specifically, in the Psychiatric patients (76) group:

64 (84.2%) reported No suicidal ideation,

3 (3.9%) Mild suicidal ideation,

5 (6.6%) Moderate suicidal ideation,

3 (3.9%) Serious suicidal ideation,

1 (1.3%) Very serious suicidal ideation