Suicide ideation in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease often accompanied by significant psychological complications, in particular, by occurrence of suicidal ideation. It usually arises from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors including disease progression, non motor symptoms such as depression and anxiety, functional decline and treatment-related effects. This narrative review explores the current scientific understanding of suicide ideation in Parkinson’s, examining demographic, clinical and treatment-related factors which could help identify individuals at high risk of progression from suicide ideation to suicidal behaviour while highlighting the key research gaps and limitations. The literature search was conducted using databases PubMed, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, Medline and Scopus. Suicidality in Parkinson’s patients was delineated as an urgent issue in existing studies that has to be addressed on a spectrum, ranging from passive ideation to active planning and attempts. Many patients with suicide ideation but without active behaviours remain undetected and treatment is provided only after reaching a crisis point. Despite growing awareness, issues such as inconsistent definitions of suicide ideation, lack of longitudinal studies and underreporting limit the ability to draw firm scientific conclusions. This review underscores the clinical importance of early mental health screening and support for the patients.