Risk of suicide and religious or spiritual beliefs in Brazilian adult patients with epilepsy

•Suicide risk was high in adult patients with epilepsy (PWE).•The suicide risk was associated with epilepsy variables and the presence of anxiety.•Lower perception of support and assistance from religiosity or spirituality was associated with an even higher suicide risk. In epilepsy, suicidal behavior is higher compared with the general population. To assess the relationship between suicide risk, religiosity or spirituality, and clinical variables in adult patients with epilepsy (PWE). The data from the suicide module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) were related to scores on the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS-P) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as clinical variables in 96 adults PWE, with a significance level of p