Positive symptoms of psychosis (specifically hallucinations and delusions) in schizophrenia play a role in suicidal ideation, according to a recent study, pointing towards the implication that beyond symptoms of depression, positive symptoms must be evaluated and treated. Researchers obtained baseline data on schizophrenic adults from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE, n=1,460) and measured suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and symptoms of depression, as well as hallucinations and delusions. They found:

• Symptoms of depression, positive symptoms of psychosis, and hopelessness independently predicted suicidal ideation.

• Hopelessness significantly mediated the relationship between symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation.

• Positive symptoms of psychosis were found to moderate the relationship between symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation.