Psychopathological and interpersonal factors associated with suicide attempts in Mexican clinical patients with and without a history of child sexual abuse

Suicidal behavior in the Mexican population is understudied, and there is a paucity of research exploring the role of psychological factors and of the interpersonal theory of suicide in this population. The objectives of this work were: to explore the associations between interpersonal and psychopathological variables and suicide attempts. We also explored psychopathological differences in suicidal behavior between patients with a history of child sexual abuse and those without and examined the most accurate predictors of suicide attempts in the study sample. Finally, we tested the mediation between related variables. Results showed that the most accurate predictors of suicide attempts were perceived burdensomeness, suicidal ideation, and suicide plans. Patients with a history of child sexual abuse differed in levels of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and NSSI frequency. Suicide plans mediated the associated between perceived burdensomeness and suicide attempts. Clinical and intervention implications are discussed.