Correlation Between Motivations for Suicidal Attempts and Anhedonia among Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

Background: Suicidal attempts have multiple risk factors and motivations and might leads to lethal consequences. The accurate assessment of motivation for suicide may prove useful in describing a pathway for prevention, early detection of suicidal ideations, and management of suicidal attempts. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the correlation between motivations for suicidal attempts and anhedonia among patients with psychiatric disorders. Design: Correlational design was used in this study. Sample: A purposive sample of 88 psychiatric patients with positive history of suicidal attempts who receive a follow-up visit at the psychiatric outpatient clinics, Al Abbassia Mental Health Hospital from January to March, 2020 and met the study inclusion criteria were obtained. Tools for data collection:1) Patient’s Interviewing Questionnaire to assess the demographic data and medical history among psychiatric patients, 2) Inventory of Motivations for Suicide Attempts, 3) Social Anhedonia Scale and 4) Physical Anhedonia Scale. Results: This study showed that most studied patients had a moderate level of social and physical anhedonia. The level of education, monthly income, place of residency, and social and physical anhedonia were independent positive predictors of suicidal motivations. In addition, this study showed that there was a positive correlation between the motivation for suicidal attempts domains and anhedonia among psychiatric patients with suicidal attempts understudy (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The most common motivation for suicidal attempts among psychiatric patients were help-seeking, psychache, burdensomeness, low belongingness, interpersonal influence, and hopelessness. Most psychiatric patients with suicidal attempts understudy had a moderate level of social and physical anhedonia and there was a positive correlation between the motivation for suicidal attempts domains and levels of social anhedonia among psychiatric patients with suicidal attempts. Recommendations: Develop and implement a psycho-educational program for psychiatric patients to improve their coping with psychiatric illness, prevent suicidal attempts, management feeling of anhedonia and give them meaning for life to decrease the risk of suicide.