The Meaning in Life in Suicidal Patients: The Presence and the Search for Constructs. A Systematic Review

Costanza, Alessandra; Prelati, Massimo; Pompili, Maurizio

doi:10.3390/medicina55080465

Cited by 55 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(121 reference statements)

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“…The encounter with suicidal neurologic patients also forces the clinician to question their own experience and position on suicide and existence [ 49 - 51 ]. Is suicide a reasonable or understandable outcome of the hopelessness that is frequently implicit in neurologic diseases?…”

Section: Reflections Regarding Suicidality In Neurological Diseases Amentioning

confidence: 99%

When Sick Brain and Hopelessness Meet: Some Aspects of Suicidality in the Neurological Patient

Costanza

Amerio

Aguglia

et al. 2020

CNSNDDT

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: Neurological diseases expose individuals to a higher risk of suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior, including completed suicides and suicide attempts. They also represent a paradigmatic arena to study the etio-pathogenic mechanisms underlying suicidality because they are emblematic of the heterogeneity and complexity of mutual interrelationships characterizing this issue. On the one hand, neurological diseases imply strictly biological impairments that are postulated to be the basis of vulnerability to suicide or result in the need for treatments for which a suicidal risk has been hypothesized. On the other hand, they question some subjective experiences of neurological patients, up to near existential positions. Often, in fact, they are accompanied by severe hopelessness. The latter may originate in, particularly for the most severe neurological diseases, the absence of curative treatments, unpredictable disease progression that leads to acute relapses or chronicity, a decrease of autonomy or self-identity, progressive social isolation, a sense of becoming useless, and a perception of feeling stigmatized. This may ultimately cause a slip into the experience of an absurd condition. At the confluence of neurobiology and hopelessness, frequent psychiatric co-morbidities may play a primary role. To conclude, neurological patients require special attention from clinicians which should consist of openly verbalizing and exploring the suicidal thematic, inquiring about protective and risk factors, and promptly initiating both a psychopharmacological treatment and, where possible, psychological support.

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Section: Reflections Regarding Suicidality In Neurological Diseases Amentioning

confidence: 99%

When Sick Brain and Hopelessness Meet: Some Aspects of Suicidality in the Neurological Patient

Costanza

Amerio

Aguglia

et al. 2020

CNSNDDT

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“…To our knowledge, only four studies have investigated the roles of both constructs of MiL in the development of suicidal behavior (SB) [ (15)(16)(17)(18); for a review, see (19)]. These studies were performed in undergraduate students (16), military personnel and veterans (15,16,18), and HIV-positive patients (17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All of these studies have reported that the presence of MiL has a protective function on SB, directly or through mediationmoderation models. Data describing search for MiL were less consistent but generally not associated with protection against SB (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Although only a limited number of studies have reported on MiL in relation to SB, more research is available on MiL in those who live with chronic pain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Presence and the Search Constructs of Meaning in Life in Suicidal Patients Attending a Psychiatric Emergency Department

et al. 2020

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Meaning in Life (MiL) is considered protective against suicidal behavior (SB). However, few studies specifically addressed the role of the constructs, "presence of MiL" and "search for MiL," and their dynamic interplay. In this cross-sectional study of patients with SB (N = 199) visiting a psychiatric Emergency Department for either suicidal ideation (SI) or suicide attempt (SA), we pursued the following objectives: 1) to explore the relationship between the two constructs; 2) to verify the protective value of presence of MiL on SB; and 3) to assess the influence of search for MiL on the relationship between presence of MiL and SI. The two constructs were found to be independent of one another. Higher presence of MiL was globally associated with lower SB levels, particularly SI. Search for MiL was not related to SB and did not moderate the relationship between presence of MiL and SI. In conclusion, formal support for the role of presence of MiL against SB in a psychiatric sample was demonstrated. These findings, with a view toward refinement of SB risk assessment and new psychotherapeutic approaches, may lead to an enrichment of the dialogue with suicidal patients to help alleviate their unbearable suffering. Our conclusions must be replicated in psychiatric clinical populations in settings other than a psychiatric ED and by using a longitudinal prospective and case-control study design.

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“…Although these associations do not imply causality, a large number of studies have confirmed the link between the experience of low MIL and suicide risk factors (e.g. Costanza, Prelati, & Pompili, ; Marco, Pérez, & García‐Alandete, ; Sinclair, Bryan, & Bryan, ; Van Tongeren, Hill, Krause, Ironson, & Pargament, ), BPD symptoms (Marco, Pérez, Garcia‐Alandete, & Moliner, ), psychopathology (Schulenberg, Strack, & Buchanan, ), and depression (Volkert, Schulz, Brütt, & Andreas, ). Thus, the literature clearly shows a link between mental health and MIL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meaning in life moderates hopelessness, suicide ideation, and borderline psychopathology in participants with eating disorders: A longitudinal study

Marco

Cañabate

Llorca

et al. 2019

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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Participants with eating disorders (EDs) experience identity problems, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Research has confirmed the link between the experience of low meaning in life (MIL) and psychopathology. However, there is a lack of research focusing on MIL in ED. Objectives The objectives of this study are as follows: (a) to analyze whether MIL at baseline moderates the association between ED psychopathology at baseline and borderline symptoms, hopelessness, and suicide ideation at follow‐up and (b) to analyze whether MIL moderates the association between suicide ideation, hopelessness, and borderline symptoms at baseline and at the 7‐month follow‐up. Method The sample was composed of 300 participants with ED at baseline and 122 at the 7‐month follow‐up. The participants filled out the Purpose in Life, Eating Attitude Test, Borderline Symptoms List, Hopelessness Scale, and Suicide Ideation Scale. Results (a) MIL at baseline moderated the association between ED psychopathology at baseline and borderline symptoms, hopelessness, and suicide ideation at the follow‐up; (b) MIL moderated the association between suicide ideation, hopelessness, and borderline symptoms at baseline and at the 7‐month follow‐up. Conclusion MIL could be a relevant variable in the ED psychopathology.

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The Meaning in Life in Suicidal Patients: The Presence and the Search for Constructs. A Systematic Review

Cited by 55 publications

References 68 publications

When Sick Brain and Hopelessness Meet: Some Aspects of Suicidality in the Neurological Patient

When Sick Brain and Hopelessness Meet: Some Aspects of Suicidality in the Neurological Patient

The Presence and the Search Constructs of Meaning in Life in Suicidal Patients Attending a Psychiatric Emergency Department

Meaning in life moderates hopelessness, suicide ideation, and borderline psychopathology in participants with eating disorders: A longitudinal study

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