Relation between Suicide Probability and Self-Criticism among Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Background: Self-criticism is seen as the main of psychopathology in Major depressive disorder (MDD). It has been demonstrated that higher suicide rates and more severe MDD are linked to self-criticism. Therefore, it is important for psychiatric nurses through their interaction with patients with MDD to assess patients’ self-criticism. This assessment would guide them in the early identification of this risk factor to open the possibility of preventing suicide in the context of clinical practice. Aim: to determine the relation between suicide probability and self-criticism among patients with MDD. Methods: Design: Descriptive correlational design was utilized in this study. Setting: outpatient psychiatric department of Tanta University Hospital affiliated to Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Subject: The study subject was composed of a convenient sample of 150 patients diagnosed with MDD per DSM-5. Tools: suicide probability questionnaire (Cull & Gill, 1982) , and self-criticizing/attacking and self-reassuring scale (Gilbert et al., 2004). Results : There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between suicide probability and self-criticism. Conclusion: This study concluded that there was a high level of self-criticism and suicidal probability among patients with MDD. Also, higher levels of self-criticizing scale are associated with higher probability of suicide. Recommendation: Psychiatric nurses should assess self-criticism routinely for patients with MDD and develop psycho-educational programs that target self-criticism to decrease suicide probability.