Cognitive flexibility and suicide risk indicators among psychiatric inpatients

Psychiatry Res. 2022 Jul:313:114594. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114594. Epub 2022 May 1.

Abstract

Cognitive flexibility has been linked with positive psychological health outcomes, whereas cognitive rigidity has been linked with suicide risk. We examined associations among cognitive flexibility and certain suicide risk indicators among a sample of patients psychiatrically hospitalized for suicide risk (n = 40). Data were collected during two pilot randomized controlled trials. At baseline, cognitive flexibility was not associated with depressive symptoms, hopelessness, or severity of lifetime worst point suicide ideation. At 3-months post psychiatric discharge, higher baseline cognitive flexibility predicted significantly lower depressive symptoms and worst point suicide ideation in the past month, but did not predict lower hopelessness.

Keywords: Cognitive flexibility; Psychiatric inpatients; Suicide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cognition
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Inpatients* / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Suicidal Ideation*