Physical illness has been recognized as a major risk factor for suicidal behaviours, especially among females. A higher number of physical comorbidities has been associated with higher suicide- risk, thus having a greater burden among the elderly.

investigate this evidence to be able to estimate the load of physical illness on suicidality among psychiatric females of different age.

Evaluate the association between suicidal ideation, age, depression and physical comorbidities in a sample of acute females psychiatric in-patients.

81 psychiatric female in-patients were evaluated during their first day of hospitalization through MADRS, SSI and the presence of organic comorbidity has been collected together with demographic data. All the evaluations were carried out at the Psychiatric Clinic, University of Genova, Italy.

Mean age 48 (age–range value: 74, high variability). Pearson's Chi-squared test showed: significant association between SSI and MADRS (P = 0,027; α = 0,05); no association between SSI and age (P = 0,194; α=0,05); no association between SSI and presence medical illness (P = 0,132; α = 0,05); no association between SSI and number of medical illness (P = 0,186; α = 0,05).

Our results show that the levels of suicidal ideation in psychiatric females are independent from age, presence and number of physical comorbidities. Suicidal ideation appears to be associated only with levels of depression. Our results challenge evidence from a large number of current studies and, if confirmed by further research, would lead to reconsider major suicide risk factors. Further research to investigate these associations on larger samples is needed.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.