Citation

Wiedenmann A, Weyerer S. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 1993; 88(5): 364-368.

Affiliation

Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.

Comment In:

Acta Psychiatr Scand 1995;92(4):318

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8296580

Abstract

Substantial fluctuations have prevailed in both the rate and particular methods of suicide in the Federal Republic of Germany during the past 40 years. The current study examines the extent to which the availability, attraction and lethality of particular methods of suicide affect suicide rates. A close relationship existed in the period from 1949 and 1989 between the peaks of the suicide rate and the percentage of low threshold suicide methods according to De Catanzaro, whereby suicide in this context is understood to mean suicide by shooting or intake of solid, liquid or gaseous poisons. Our hypothetically expected lesser compensation between high and low threshold methods for women was confirmed. Between 1963 and 1976 the rate of suicide committed using domestic gas receded dramatically. Within the same period, however, the rate of suicide committed using other poisons rose accordingly.

Language: en