Citation

Hunt IM, Kapur N, Windfuhr K, Appleby L. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 43.

Affiliation

Homicide by People with Mental Illness, Williamson Building, M139PL Manchester, England. (Isabelle.m.hunt@manchester.ac.uk)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963909

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the social and clinical characteristics of people with schizophrenia who have committed suicide. Methods: A national clinical survey based on a 7-year (1996-2003) sample of suicides in England and Wales. Detailed data was collected on all those who had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death. Results: Of 9,438 cases of suicide, 1818 (19%) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. These suicides were more often young, male, non-white, unmarried and unemployed compared to cases without schizophrenia. They were more likely to use more violent modes of death such as hanging and jumping and rates of previous violence and drug misuse were high. Nearly forty percent had co-morbid depressive illness. Suicides with schizophrenia were proportionally more likely to be in-patients at the time of death and to have been non-compliant with medication. Cases with co-morbid substance dependence showed particularly complex social and clinical morbidity. Conclusions: Services must ensure all patients with schizophrenia receive the most intensive level of care in both the in-patient and community setting. Particular emphasis should be placed on closer supervision, improving compliance and effective treatment of depression and substance misuse.

Language: en