Citation

Heilä H, Isometsa ET, Henriksson MM, Heikkinen ME, Marttunen MJ, Lonnqvist JK. Br. J. Psychiatry 1998; 173: 330-333.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. Hannele.Heila@ktl.fi

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9926038

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicides among people with schizophrenia are commonly believed to be impulsive and to occur unexpectedly. METHOD: As part of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland, a nationwide psychological autopsy study, suicide victims with DSM-III-R schizophrenia (n = 86; n = 64 in the active illness phase) and others (n = 1109; n = 666 without any evidence for psychosis) were compared for communication of suicidal intent (CSI), as well as previous suicide attempts known by the next of kin and/or an attending health care professional during the latest treatment relationship. RESULTS: More victims with schizophrenia (84%) had a history of previous CSI, and/or had made previous suicide attempt(s) than others (70%). Also, victims with active illness schizophrenia (56%) had more CSI and/or had made suicide attempts during their last three months than victims with no psychosis (41%). CONCLUSIONS: CSI and/or suicide attempts occur at least as often in people with schizophrenia as in those without schizophrenia, even in the active phase of the illness.

Language: en