Citation

Oyesanya M, Lopez-Morinigo J, Dutta R. World J. Psychiatry 2015; 5(2): 243-254.

Affiliation

Mayowa Oyesanya, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London School of Medicine, King's College London, London SE5 9RJ, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Baishideng Publishing Group)

DOI

10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.243

PMID

26110126

PMCID

PMC4473496

Abstract

AIM: To provide a systematic update of the evidence concerning the relationship between economic recession and suicide.

METHODS: A keyword search of Ovid Medline, Embase, Embase Classic, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES was performed to identify studies that had investigated the association between economic recession and suicide.

RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies met predetermined selection criteria and 31 of them found a positive association between economic recession and increased suicide rates. Two studies reported a negative association, two articles failed to find such an association, and three studies were inconclusive.

CONCLUSION: Economic recession periods appear to increase overall suicide rates, although further research is warranted in this area, particularly in low income countries.

Language: en