Citation

Zonda T. Arch. Suicide Res. 2003; 7(1): 61-67.

Affiliation

Psychiatric Department, Jahn Hospital Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811110301563

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The author re-examined the theory published in several papers in Hungarian and English which attempt to explain the striking regional (geographical) differences in Hungarian suicide rates. According to this theory the differences are due to the fact that in counties with a high suicide rate the number of diagnosed (registered) depression cases is low and vice versa. Thus there is a negative correlation between the suicide rate and the "diagnosed depression" rate of the different regions. The explanation given is that the number of general practitioners is lower in regions (counties) with high suicide rates. Assessing a more reliable database and a much longer time period (1985-1998) the author did not find any confirmation of this theory. Since the Hungarian suicide situation has many specific features with deep historical, cultural and traditional roots, the explanation of the high Hungarian suicide rates and regional differences requires a much more complex approach.