Objective: The relationship between trichotillomania (TTM) and skin picking disorder (SPD), classified under the category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) in the DSM-5, and suicidal behavior remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, clinical variables, psychiatric comorbidities, suicidal ideation, and behavior in treatment-seeking individuals diagnosed with TTM and SPD, as well as to identify the determinants of the severity of suicidal behavior. Methods: The study included patients who were diagnosed with TTM (n=26) or SPD (n=40) according to DSM-5, and healthy controls (n=54). Comorbidities were determined by the Clinician Version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-I). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), The Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), and Suicidal Behavior Scale (SBQ) were administered to all participants. Results: The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts, BDI scores, SSI and SBQ subscale and total scores, as well as the rates of suicidal ideation, were statistically significantly higher in TTM and SPD patients compared to the control group (P < .05). Psychiatric comorbidity, BDI scores, and the course of the disorder were identified as predictors of SBQ scores (P < .05). Conclusion: Suicidal ideation and behaviors are significantly higher in individuals with TTM and SPD compared to healthy controls. Psychiatric comorbidities, depression severity, and the chronic course of the disorders were found to be significantly associated with suicidal behavior. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive suicide risk assessments in TTM and SPD patients to guide effective interventions. Cite this article as: Pirdoğan Aydın E, Yıldırım F, Kenar JG. Suicidal ideation and attempts in trichotillomania and skin- picking disorder: a comparative study with healthy controls. Neuropsychiatr Invest. 2025, 63, 0002, doi:10.5152/NeuropsychiatricInvest.2025.25002.
Aydın et al. (Thu,) studied this question.