Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition with significant morbidity and mortality. The relationship between psychiatric disorders and PE outcomes is complex and not well understood. This study aimed to determine the impact of psychiatric disorders on PE outcomes by comparing patients with and without these conditions.

Using the National Inpatient Sample database, we analysed 725 725 adult patients hospitalised with PE between 2016 and 2019. Patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of psychiatric disorders. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations between psychiatric disorders and in-hospital outcomes, adjusting for baseline differences.

Of the patients studied, 26.6% had psychiatric disorders. These patients were younger (59.80 vs 63.91 years, p

Psychiatric disorders are associated with distinct management and outcomes in PE. Recognising these unique characteristics may help optimise care for this population; further research is needed to clarify the best management strategies.

Identifying individuals at risk of suicide remains an ongoing challenge. Previous research investigating risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB) has been informative for assessing suicide risk. However, the complex biological, psychological and sociocultural factors underlying STB have not been comprehensively captured to date, which has limited our understanding of how these factors interact to influence STB. Moreover, acute care settings, such as emergency departments (EDs), are often first points of contact for individuals with STB, highlighting a need for more research in these settings.

We aim to (1) characterize a cohort seeking care for STB and their clinical trajectories; (2) situate the cohort by comparing its characteristics and outcomes to other groups seeking emergency care; (3) explore their experiences of seeking care; and (4) examine blood-based biomarkers modulating risk for STB. Using a multimethod, prospective cohort design, we will follow up to 500 people aged 16 or older presenting to the ED with STB at a psychiatric hospital over 1 year. Analyses will involve descriptive statistics and latent profile analysis to characterize the cohort, hypothesis tests and regression models to situate the cohort, qualitative analysis based on a realist research framework to understand experiences, and within-participant comparisons of proteins, mRNA and epigenetic DNA modifications to examine biomarkers of contrasting states of STB.

This study was approved by the hospital’s Research Ethics Board with safeguards in place to ensure the well-being of participants and research team. An integrated knowledge translation approach will be used for dissemination, wherein patient and family advisors are engaged throughout each study phase. Findings will enhance our understanding of the multifactorial nature of suicide risk, inform strategies for prevention and provide important insights into characteristics, experiences and outcomes of individuals with STB, who are under-represented in mental health research.