Citation

Walsh E, Harvey K, White I, Manley C, Fraser J, Stanbridge S, Murray RM. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 1999; 100(5): 375-382.

Affiliation

Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10563455

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study estimates the prevalence of and risk factors for parasuicide in a large community-based sample of patients with chronic psychosis. METHOD: A total of 704 subjects with chronic psychosis were interviewed using a battery of instruments. The 2-year prevalence of parasuicide was estimated and a comparison was made between attempters and nonattempters on a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The 2-year prevalence of parasuicide was 18.8%. Attempters were significantly more likely to be younger, of white ethnic origin, to have a diagnosis of affective disorder, to be currently depressed, to have experienced more auditory hallucinations and to have received treatment with antipsychotic drugs for a longer period. CONCLUSION: Parasuicide was found to present a considerable clinical problem in this group. Continual risk assessment is essential to reduce this unacceptably high rate.

Language: en