Are the Symptom Networks of People with One or Multiple Suicide Attempts Different?

A new study from the Survive cohort, led by the Complutense University of Madrid, has investigated symptom networks in repeated suicidal behavior

Suicide is a complex phenomenon to study due to the vast number of factors involved. Recent research has approached the topic by studying symptom networks, a technique that allows the analysis of the interrelation between multiple risk factors, identifying how they interact and which are most relevant. Following this methodology, a new study from the SURVIVE group, led by the Complutense University of Madrid, has used these networks to analyze the profile of people with a single suicide attempt and compare it with those who have made multiple attempts throughout their lives.

The study included 1,043 people who had attempted suicide, answering questionnaires on various aspects such as psychiatric symptoms, childhood trauma, impulsivity, and characteristics of suicidal behavior.

The results revealed that the number of diagnoses was one of the central nodes in the symptom network, along with self-harm and anxiety symptoms. However, no significant differences were found between the symptom networks of people with one or multiple suicide attempts.

Although individuals who have attempted suicide multiple times exhibit more intense symptoms, the structure and connections of their symptom networks do not appear to differ significantly from those who have attempted suicide only once.

The network-based approach represents a promising tool for addressing the multiplicity of risk factors in suicide. However, further research is needed to identify profiles that characterize individuals with multiple suicide attempts, in order to develop more effective intervention and prevention strategies.

Reference to original work: Pemau, A., de la Torre-Luque, A., Marin-Martin, C., Diaz-Marsa, M., Andreo-Jover, J., Ayad-Ahmed, W., ... & SURVIVE Consortium. (2025). Symptomatic networks in suicide attempt and reattempt: Relevance of psychiatric comorbidity. European Psychiatry, 68(1), e4. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1807