Variables associated with the risk of suicide in patients with chronic pain seen in a hospital outpatient clinic in Bogotá

Abstract

Introduction: The primary objective of this research is to determine the relationship between anxiety, depression, quality of life and the risk of suicide in patients with chronic pain.

Method: Cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study of a consecutive sample taken from a census of the total population seen between December 2011 and January 2012. The sample included 49 patients of the El Tunal Hospital Pain Clinic in Bogotá. The following measurement tools were used: Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Plutchik suicide risk scale and numeric pain scale.

Results: It was found that the largest percentage of the population (75%) perceived pain at a moderate-to-severe level; 34% were at risk of suicide and 25% had suicidal ideation. In terms of quality of life, the majority of patients felt that they were limited in their ability to move and perform physically demanding tasks; 75.5% of patients had experienced anxiety symptoms and 61.2% had symptoms of depression. Finally, there was no correlation between the risk of suicide and the perceived levels of pain. Significant associations were found between the risk of suicide and anxiety, depression, mental health, mental component, vitality and emotional role.

Conclusion: There is a need to undertake research designed to determine mediators between pain and emotional status, considering that this understanding appears to be crucial for improving the effectiveness of the interventions in these patients.