Suicidal symptoms in depressed Pakistani patients

ABSTRACT

Depressive patients are at a high risk for suicide. The data on the frequency of suicidal symptoms in depressed patients, however, varies widely. This paper describes the extent of these symptoms in a group of Pakistani patients. Contrary to the findings of other Muslim countries, forty five percent of our patients showed suicidal psychopathology. Female patients showed more suicidal ideation and significant assasination was found between severity and duration of depressive illness with these symptoms. These findings are also discussed in terms of their importance in early recognition of these symptoms