Introduction: Individuals with chronic pain are at an increased risk of suicide. Chronic pain can lead to depression, hopelessness, provoke a desire for escape through death. However, the role of psychosocial factors that may influence their susceptibility to suicidal thoughts and behaviours has been largely overlooked. Aim: To assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and depression among chronic pain patients and to examine the association of suicidal ideation with psychological factors in attending a tertiary care hospital in India. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) of Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, a tertiary care hospital in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, between November 2022 and May 2023. A total of 104 patients with chronic pain were included. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Suicidal ideation, depression, insomnia and pain severity were assessed using Beck’s Suicidal Ideation Scale (BSI), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively. Data were analysed using IBM-Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: A total of 40 patients (38.5%) had the presence of suicidal ideation with an average pain score of 5.1±2.3. Mild to moderate depression was reported in 68 patients (65.4%), while 14 patients (13.5%) had severe depression. The majority 62 (59.6%) had moderate to severe insomnia. Suicidal ideation was more prevalent among those with severe pain (p-value=0.002). Depression was significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation is common among patients with chronic pain, particularly in those with severe pain and depression. It highlights the urgent need for integrated care models in chronic pain management to identify and address suicidality early and effectively
Khatri et al. (Tue,) studied this question.