Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both motor and non-motor neurological functions. In addition to motor impairment, patients frequently experience psychiatric complications such as depression, anxiety, and emotional disturbances, which may increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Background: Although multiple studies have investigated suicidal ideation and suicide-related behaviors among individuals with Parkinson’s disease, the reported findings vary considerably across populations and study designs. These inconsistencies highlight the need for a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence to better understand the magnitude of suicide risk in PD patients.

Method: A systematic search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Original research articles published in English that assessed suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior among adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease were included. Eligible study designs consisted of cross-sectional, case–control, and cohort studies. Studies focusing exclusively on PD patients who underwent deep brain stimulation were excluded.

Results: A total of 36 studies including 403,470 individuals with Parkinson’s disease were analyzed. The pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation was estimated at 23.4% (96% CI: 15.4–31.2), while suicidal behavior occurred in 1.90% (96% CI: 0.75–2.56) of patients. Prospective studies reported a higher prevalence of suicidal behavior (1.86%; 96% CI: 1.07–2.75) compared with retrospective studies (0.60%; 96% CI: 0.43–1.31). Meta-analysis of 14 studies demonstrated a pooled odds ratio of 2.22 (96% CI: 1.43–4.56; P = .01) for suicidal behavior among PD patients. Similarly, analysis of 16 studies produced a hazard ratio of 1.86 (96% CI: 1.21–2.44; P < .001). Figure 1 illustrates the comparative prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior in Parkinson’s disease derived from the pooled meta-analysis results.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that individuals with Parkinson’s disease have a significantly elevated risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared with the general population. Early identification of psychiatric symptoms and integration of mental health assessment into routine PD management may help reduce suicide risk and improve patient outcomes.

Figure 1

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/suicidal-ideation-and-behavior-in-parkinsons-disease-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/