Quality of object relations and suicidal ideation among community mental health outpatients

Abstract

Patients in community mental health settings frequently endorse suicidal thoughts. While a variety of factors may be involved, the role of impaired quality of object relations– structuralized representations of self-other relationships – may significantly contribute to the likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation. The present study examined the association between current suicidal thoughts and quality of object relations impairment in a sample of 101 patients presenting for community mental health services. Logistic regression analysis indicated that overall impairment of quality of object relations was significantly associated with current suicidal thoughts after controlling for past suicide attempts and severity of psychiatric symptoms. Individuals with highly impaired quality of object relations had a nearly two-and-a-half times greater likelihood of reporting current suicidal thoughts.

Keywords:

• suicide
• suicidal ideation
• object relations
• community mental health
• outpatients

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.