Citation

Hirokawa S, Matsumoto T, Katsumata Y, Kitani M, Akazawa M, Takahashi Y, Kawakami N, Watanabe N, Hirayama M, Kameyama A, Takeshima T. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2012; 66(4): 292-302.

Affiliation

National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo General Research Institute, Seigakuin University Graduate School The Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nihon University College of Humanities and Sciences, Tokyo Division of Behavioral Sciences, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Saitama Faculty of Humanities, Kansai University of International Studies, Hyogo, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1440-1819.2012.02343.x

PMID

22624734

Abstract

Aim:  The present study was conducted to examine differences in psychosocial and psychiatric characteristics between suicide completers with and without a history of psychiatric treatment within the year before death, using a psychological autopsy method. Methods:  A semi-structured interview was administered by a psychiatrist and other mental health professionals for the closest bereaved of 76 suicide completers. Results:  Suicide completers with a history of psychiatric treatment (n = 38) were significantly younger than those without (n = 38) (P < 0.01), and a significantly higher proportion of cases in the treatment group were estimated to be suffering from schizophrenia. Further, in 57.9% of the treatment group, the fatal suicidal behavior involved overdose with prescribed psychotropic drugs. In addition, female suicide completers in the treatment group were more likely to have a history of self-harm or non-fatal suicidal behavior. Conclusion:  Many suicide completers who received psychiatric treatment were young adults. It was common for suicide completers to overdose on prescribed drugs as a supplementary means of suicide, and many experienced self-harming behavior before death. In addition, a higher proportion of the treatment cases suffered from schizophrenia.

Language: en