Table.
Clinical characteristics of new patients attending neurology outpatient clinics. Values are numbers (percentages) unless indicated otherwise
| Patients with suicidal ideation* (n=26) | Patients without suicidal ideation (n=274) | Relative risk (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 12 (46) | 114 (42) | 1.11 (0.71 to 1.72) |
| Women | 14 (54) | 160 (58) | 0.84 (0.40 to 1.76) |
| Age ⩽40 years | 15 (58) | 128 (47) | 1.50 (0.71 to 3.15) |
| Has medically unexplained symptoms | 12 (46) | 78 (28) | 1.62 (1.03 to 2.56) |
| Has non-progressive neurological disease† | 12 (46) | 153 (56) | 0.83 (0.54 to 1.27) |
| Has potentially progressive neurological disease‡ | 2 (8) | 43 (16) | 0.49 (0.13 to 1.91) |
| Major depressive disorder diagnosed | 23 (88) | 54 (20) | 4.49 (3.40 to 5.92) |
| Identified as needing psychiatric assessment:§ | |||
| By general practitioner | 8 (31) | 43 (16) | NA |
| By neurologist | 12 (46) | 40 (15) | NA |
| Not identified | 11 (42) | 170 (62) | NA |
NA=not applicable.
*
Prevalence is 9% (95% CI 6% to 12%).
†
Includes conditions such as epilepsy, headache, migraine, and neuropathy.
‡
Includes conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and brain tumours.
§
Not specifically identified as being suicidal.