Implications of childhood trauma on suicidal behavior and deliberate self-harm in patients with major depressive disorder

Abstract

Background: Traumatic experiences in the first years of life have an important role in the occurrence of major depression as well as many psychiatric diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma (CT), suicidal behavior and deliberate self-harm (DSH) behavior in patients who are diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). Subjects and methods: 106 patients who were admitted with depressive complaints to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital in Turkey were included in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical harm Questionnaire (DSHI) were applied to all of the cases. Results: 86 (81.1%) of the cases were female and 20 (18.9%) were male. It was determined that 68.9% of the patients had CT, 49.1% had a history of DSH, and 52.1% had a suicide attempt history. It was determined that 75% of those with DSH behavior had a history of suicide attempt. There was a significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). When the subtypes of CT, suicide ideation, suicide attempt and DSH behavior, were compared to each other, a significant relationship was found for all of the subtypes. A significant correlation was found between the number of CT and suicide attempts and DSH (p<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, high levels of CT and its subtypes were found in patients with MDD. In the presence of CT and all of its subtypes, suicide attempt and DSH were significantly higher. In the follow-up of cases diagnosed with MDD, questioning CT is important in terms of suicide attempt and prevention of DSH.