Instability of Suicidal Ideation in Patients Hospitalized for Depression: An Exploratory Study Using Smartphone Ecological Momentary Assessment

Abstract

This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to explore the correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) instability in patients hospitalized for depression and SI. Thirty-nine adult inpatients were given smartphones with visual analogue scales to rate current depressed mood, anger/irritability, feeling socially connected, and SI three times a day throughout hospitalization. Affective Lability Scales (ALS) were also completed at baseline. SI instability was correlated with SI intensity, depressed mood instability, and social connection instability. Social connection instability was not associated with SI instability after controlling for depressed mood instability. ALS scores were not associated with EMA-derived SI instability. Participants with multiple past suicide attempts experienced greater SI instability. More research examining the clinical significance of SI instability is warranted.

Keywords:

• Affective instability
• depression
• ecological momentary assessment
• suicide

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Evyn M. Peters

Evyn M. Peters, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Lisa Yue Dong

Lisa Yue Dong, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Teena Thomas

Teena Thomas, Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Sara Khalaj

Sara Khalaj, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Lloyd Balbuena

Lloyd Balbuena, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Marilyn Baetz

Marilyn Baetz, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Nathaniel Osgood

Nathaniel Osgood, Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Rudy Bowen

Rudy Bowen, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.