Neurocognitive markers of suicidal ideation in patients with anxiety and mood disorders

Abstract

Objective: This study aims at identifying associations between cognitive function and suicidal ideation in the sample of patients with anxiety and mood disorders (AMD).

Methods: In sum, 186 (age = 39 ± 12.3 years; 142 [76.3%] females) patients with AMD were enrolled in the study. Assessment included evaluation of socio-demographic information, medication use, anxiety and depression symptoms. Cognitive tests included measures of psychomotor performance and incidental learning using the Digit Symbol Test. Trail Making Tests respectively measured perceptual speed, task-switching and executive control. Additionally, 21 patients completed tests from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery measuring set shifting (Interdimensional/extradimensional set-shift), executive planning (Stockings of Cambridge), and decision making (Cambridge Gamble Task [CGT]).

Results: Almost half (45.0%, n = 86) of the study sample patients had experienced suicidal ideations. In multivariable regression analysis, suicidal ideation was associated with a greater overall proportion of bet and risk taking on the CGT task (β = 0.726, p = .010 and β = 0.634, p = .019), when controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, medication use, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Conclusions: Outpatients with AMD and suicidal ideation could be distinguished by the presence of cognitive deficits in the executive function domain, particularly in impulse-control and risk taking.

Keywords:

• Suicidal ideation
• neurocognitive markers
• anxiety and mood disorders

Disclosure statement

Dr. Naomi A. Fineberg who in the past several years, has received research support from Lundbeck, Glaxo-SmithKline, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), Servier, Cephalon, Astra Zeneca, Medical Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research, Wellcome Foundation, University of Hertfordshire, EU (FP7), Shire. Dr. Fineberg has received honoraria for lectures at scientific meetings from Sun Pharmaceuticals, Abbott, Otsuka, Lundbeck, Servier, Astra Zeneca, Jazz pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb,UK College of Mental Health Pharmacists, British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP), Wiley. Dr. Fineberg has received financial support to attend scientific meetings from Sun Pharmaceuticals, RANZCP, Shire, Janssen, Lundbeck, Servier, Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cephalon, International College of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, International Society for Behavioural Addiction, CINP, IFMAD, ECNP, BAP, World Health Organization, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Wiley. Dr. Fineberg has received financial royalties for publications from Oxford University Press and payment for editorial duties from Taylor and Francis and Elsevier.

Julija Gecaite works as a consultant at FACITtrans. Dr. Julius Burkauskas has served as a consultant at Cogstate, Ltd. Remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to members of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders Research Network (OCRN) and Anxiety Disorders Network (ADRN) whose comments have shaped this manuscript in its development. The ECNP OCRN and ADRN are components of the ECNP-Network Initiative (ECNP-NI) and receives financial support from the ECNP, to support its academic activities.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Julius Burkauskas would like to thank the IBRO Pan-European Regional Committee (IBRO-PERC) for the InEurope Short Stay Grant which helped to partially fund this study.