THE ROLE OF EMOTION REGULATION DIFFICULTIES IN THE RELATION BETWEEN SUICIDE RISK AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS

R. D. Nicoara, R. Trifu, R. Oroian, H. G. Coman, D. Cosman

Abstract: This research is based on existing research in the literature referring to the relationship amongst emotion regulation difficulties, quality of life, depression and suicide risk in depressed patient. The main goal of this research is to identify the role of emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between suicide risk and quality of life in depressed patients. Data were collected using a general demographic questionnaire plus specific psychometric tests: Difficulties in emotional regulation scale (DERS-SF), Quality of life inventory (Qoli), Columbia suicide severity rating scale (C-SSRS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21-R). The study included 109 participants, aged 18 – 60 years ((M= 36, SD=12.75), 37 (33.9%) men and 72 (66.1%) women, 49 from a rural background (45%) and 60 from urban background (55%), 43 in the clinical group - patients with depression (39.4%) and 66 in the non-clinical group - controls (60.6%). The results reinforce all the hypotheses of the research and point out the role of emotion regulation difficulties in the relation between suicide risk and the quality of life in depressive patients. Thus, the level of depression, severity of suicide risk and emotion regulation difficulties negatively influence the quality of life. The research findings point out that emotion regulation difficulties should be taken into account when designing psychotherapy programs and protocols aiming at increasing the quality of life and reducing the risk of suicide in depressive patients.
Keywords: suicide risk, quality of life, depression, emotion regulation difficulties.