Cognition As a Therapeutic Target in the Suicidal Patient Approach. 2018

Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

The current considerations about completed suicides and suicide attempts in different cultures call the attention of professionals to this serious public health problem. Integrative approaches have shown that the confluence of multiple biological and social factors modulate various psychopathologies and dysfunctional behaviors, such as suicidal behavior. Considering the level of intermediate analysis, personality traits and cognitive functioning are also of great importance for understanding the suicide phenomenon. About cognitive factors, we can group them into cognitive schemas of reality interpretation and underlying cognitive processes. On the other hand, different types of primary cognitive alterations are related to suicidal behavior, especially those resulting from changes in frontostriatal circuits. Among such cognitive mechanisms can be highlighted the attentional bias for environmental cues related to suicide, impulsive behavior, verbal fluency deficits, non-adaptive decision-making, and reduced planning skills. Attentional bias consists in the effect of thoughts and emotions, frequently not conscious, about the perception of environmental stimuli. Suicidal ideation and hopelessness can make the patient unable to find alternative solutions to their problems other than suicide, biasing their attention to environmental cues related to such behavior. Recent research efforts are directed to assess the possible use of attention bias as a therapeutic target in patients presenting suicide behavior. The relationship between impulsivity and suicide has been largely investigated over the last decades, and there is still controversy about the theme. Although there is strong evidence linking impulsivity to suicide attempts. Effective interventions address to reduce impulsivity in clinical populations at higher risk for suicide could help in the prevention. Deficits in problem-solving ability also seem to be distorted in patients who attempt suicide. Understanding cognitive changes in patients who attempt suicide open an important perspective in the approach of patients with mental disorders. Identifying cognitive deficits in these patients, along with personality traits, depressive symptoms, and suicidal cognitive schemas may indicate to the psychiatrist the need for emergency care. Behavioral and cognitive interventions have been associated with reductions in suicide ideation, as well as suicide attempts in different populations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
January 2015, Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
January 2020, Progress in brain research,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
October 2013, Biochemical pharmacology,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
January 1975, Journal of psychiatric nursing and mental health services,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
December 1971, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
February 1988, The Journal of family practice,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
April 2017, Psychological medicine,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
March 2020, Heart failure reviews,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
September 2013, Expert opinion on therapeutic targets,
Antônio Geraldo da Silva, and Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, and Marina Saraiva Garcia, and Carlos Guilherme Silva Figueiredo, and Renata Nayara Figueiredo, and Alexandre Paim Diaz, and António Pacheco Palha
April 2006, Drug news & perspectives,
Copied contents to your clipboard!