Although generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with suicide, not all dimensions of this relationship have been addressed. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychache and anxiety sensitivity with suicidality in patients with GAD. We included 80 patients with GAD (17 of whom had previous suicide attempts). The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSIS), Psychache Scale (PS), and Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI) were applied to the participants. The patients with previous suicide attempts had significantly higher scores on ASI total, ASI-physical and cognitive subdimensions, HAM-A total and psychic subscale, PS, and BSIS than those without (p < 0.05 for each). Mediation analyses revealed that psychache was a full mediator in the relationship between ASI-cognitive subdimension and suicidal ideation. Therapeutic interventions for anxiety sensitivity and psychache in patients with GAD will help reduce the risk of suicide.

Suicide,attempted suicide,depression,psychometrics,validation study

Suicide is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Psychache (psychological pain) and diminished tolerance of psychaches are important risk factors for suicide. People experiencing psychaches of similar severity may not demonstrate the same levels of tolerance because of various coping skills. This study aimed to determine the relationship between psychache, tolerance for psychache, and coping skills in individuals with depression and healthy controls. We included 73 patients with depressive disorders without comorbid mental disorders and 65 healthy controls. We applied beck depression inventory, beck hopelessness scale, beck suicidal ideation scale, psychache scale, tolerance for mental pain scale (TMPS), and coping attitudes evaluation scale (COPE) to all participants. People with depression had significantly higher COPE dysfunction scores than those in the control group did. Patients who had previously attempted suicide attempt(s) previously had significantly higher beck hopelessness scale, beck depression inventory, COPE dysfunction, and psychache scale scores, and lower TMPS-10 scores than those who did not attempt suicide. Mediation analyses revealed that dysfunctional coping skills played a partial mediating role in the relationship between psychache and the TMPS. The study revealed that dysfunctional coping skills were related to suicidal ideation and previous suicide attempts. These findings suggest that improving coping skills could help reduce the severity of suicidal ideation.

Purpose: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) may experience more frequent and severe psychological and physical pain complaints compared to those without depression. As the tolerance to psychological pain decreases in patients with MDD, the severity of suicidal ideation tends to increase. Furthermore, the tolerance for physical pain (TPP) has been related with suicidal behavior. We aimed to demonstrate the impact of TPP on suicidal ideation in patients with MDD in the presence of psychological pain. Patients and Methods: We included 123 patients with MDD and 114 healthy volunteers who had no previous psychiatric diagnosis. Sociodemographic data form, Psychache Scale (PS) and Tolerance for Mental Pain Scale (TMPS) were used to assess psychological pain. Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSIS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to participants. To assess the TPP, we used a device based on the principle of electronic dynamometry. Results: The mean BDI, BSIS, PS, and TPP scores in the MDD group were higher, and the mean TMPS score was lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001 for each, p = 0.03 for TPP). We found statistically significant correlations between BDI, TMPS, BSIS, PS, and TPP scores (p < 0.05 for each). TPP was a partial mediator in the relationship between TMPS and BSIS scores (β = − 1.814; p < 0.001). Conclusion: We found that tolerance of psychological pain was a strong predictor of suicidal ideation, and TPP was mediating this relationship. These findings suggest that considering both tolerance to psychological pain and TPP may be beneficial when assessing the risk of suicide in individuals with MDD.