Suicidal ideation and suicidal risk in patients with schizophrenia accompanied in a reference psychiatric outpatient unit of a tertiary hospital complex

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and to investigate associated factors in patients with schizophrenia accompanied in a psychiatric outpatient unit of a tertiary hospital. Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study with 49 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia, who were assessed through: 1) a sociodemographic questionnaire; 2) Suicide Ideation Section of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (SIS-C-SSRS); and 3) Suicide Risk Questionnaire of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (QRS-MINI). Results: The ages of participants ranged from 17 to 72 years old (average = 45.8 ± 14.02), mostly of the male sex (n = 34; 69.4%). The average number of affirmative responses in SIS-C-SSRS was equal to 0.75 (± 1.55). In QRS-MINI, 79.6% (n = 39) of the individuals showed a low suicide risk score, 18,4% (n = 9) showed a high risk and 2% (n = 1) showed moderate risk; and the average risk was of 5.77 (± 10.31), which indicates a currently moderate suicide risk. There was not a significant association between the suicide risk, educational level and family income factors. There was significant correlation between the SIS-C-SSRS and the QRS-MINI scores. Conclusion: The present study observed a considerably high number of patients schizophrenia accompanied in a tertiary reference psychiatric outpatient unit who presented active SI and high suicidal risk. Thus, SI should be investigated in patients with schizophrenia aiming at the prevention of suicidal behavior.