The suicide ideations rate and its risk factors among patients under hemodialysis

Background and The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideations in patients under hemodialysis and determination of psychological, clinical and demographic characteristics to early and accurate identification of the disease and prevention of the side effects in future. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 180 patients admitted to dialysis ward of Imam Khomeini and Fatemeh Zahra hospitals (Sari, Iran) in 2011 based consensus sampling method. First, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was filled by the patients and then, the patients asked to complete the Suicide Ideation questionnaire-concept scale (SSI). Of the 180 patients, 24 (13.3%) were positive for suicidal ideations in GHQ questionnaire, of which, 17 (70.8%) were women. There was a significant relationship between the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide risk in SSI questionnaire and gender, age, educational level, occupation and duration of dialysis. The prevalence of suicidal ideations among all the studied patients was 10.5%. Considering our reports, it can be concluded that psychological problems in hemodialysis patients can seriously influence their life.