The Relationships between Depression, Suicide Risk and Emotional Cognitive Coping

Abstract

Background and aim: Emotional cognitive coping strategies are closely correlated with depression and suicide risk. The aim of this study is to explore the particular features of cognitive-emotional coping and their impact on depression levels and suicidal ideation.

Methods: The study included a total number of 131 participants, 65 with a clinical diagnosis of depression and 66 controls. Instruments used were: Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21R), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), in order to assess the differences between depressive and non-depressive individuals in relation to coping strategies.

Results and conclusion: The findings, based on the statistical analysis of the scores obtained on the various psychometric scales, showed significant differences between depressive and non-depressive patients. Also, cognitive-emotional strategies could represent a good predictor to be used in the prevention of suicide risk in depressed patients.