Citation

Bhatia T, Thomas P, Semwal P, Thelma BK, Nimgaonkar VL, Deshpande SN. Schizophr. Res. 2006; 86(1-3): 208-214.

Affiliation

Indo-US Projects on Schizophrenia Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.schres.2006.04.015

PMID

16781121

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicide is one of the most common causes of death among persons with schizophrenia. Differing risk factors have been identified in published studies. The differences may have arisen because a uniform set of variables was not analyzed. Alternatively, the nature and effect of risk factors may vary in different settings. To test these possibilities, we investigated the same set of variables in two independent cross-national samples ascertained using identical protocols. METHODS: Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM IV criteria) were recruited in India (n=460) and the USA (n=424). RESULTS: Consistent with earlier publications, a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, history of depression, pattern of symptoms and educational status were significantly associated with suicide attempts in the US sample. None of these variables were significantly associated in the Indian sample. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of known risk factors for suicide attempts among patients with schizophrenia differs across ethnic groups.

Language: en