Factors associated with history of suicide attempt among patients with major depressive disorder at a community mental health center in the Peruvian Andes: a case-control study

02/09/2026

AI Summary

Among 61 cases, 100 suicide attempts recorded; mean 1.64 ± 0.67 attempts per patient.
History of traumatic exposure or abuse, alcohol dependence, borderline personality disorder and family suicide history were independently associated with prior suicide attempts.
Findings may inform trauma-informed, family-sensitive, culturally responsive suicide-risk assessment in underserved Andean community mental health settings.

AI Summary

BACKGROUND: A history of suicide attempt among patients with major depressive disorder has been associated with clinical, psychosocial, and familial vulnerabilities, yet evidence from community mental health services in underserved Andean settings remains limited.

The study included 122 adults with major depressive disorder: 61 cases with a documented history of suicide attempt and 61 controls without such history.

In minimally adjusted exposure-specific models, history of suicide attempt was associated with alcohol dependence (adjusted OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.01-10.25), borderline personality disorder (adjusted OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.25-5.58), history of traumatic exposure or abuse (adjusted OR = 7.38; 95% CI: 1.54-35.31), and family history of suicide attempt (adjusted OR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.52-9.05).

Basic summary

Front Psychiatry. 2026 Aug 17;17:1915734. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1915734. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

METHODS: A retrospective, record-based case-control study was conducted at the Kuska Wiñarisun Community Mental Health Center in Ayacucho, Peru, during 2022. The study included 122 adults with major depressive disorder: 61 cases with a documented history of suicide attempt and 61 controls without such history. Sociodemographic, clinical, psychosocial, and familial variables were extracted from clinical records using a structured data-collection form. Bivariate comparisons and logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Among cases, 100 documented suicide attempts were recorded, with a mean of 1.64 ± 0.67 attempts per patient. In minimally adjusted exposure-specific models, history of suicide attempt was associated with alcohol dependence (adjusted OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.01-10.25), borderline personality disorder (adjusted OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.25-5.58), history of traumatic exposure or abuse (adjusted OR = 7.38; 95% CI: 1.54-35.31), and family history of suicide attempt (adjusted OR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.52-9.05).

CONCLUSION: These findings may inform trauma-informed, family-sensitive, and culturally responsive suicide-risk assessment for patients with major depressive disorder in underserved Andean community mental health settings.

PMID:42676676 | PMC:PMC13526987 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1915734

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