Citation

Isometsä ET, Heikkinen ME, Marttunen MJ, Henriksson MM, Aro HM, Lönnqvist JK. Am. J. Psychiatry 1995; 152(6): 919-922.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7755124

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors' goal was to determine whether people who committed suicide within 4 weeks after having made contact with a health care professional communicated their intent to commit suicide during that final contact. METHOD: Using data from a nationwide psychological autopsy study of all suicides in Finland that occurred in 1 year, the authors examined the 571 cases of suicide victims whose last appointment with a health care professional took place up to 28 days before suicide, including 100 cases of victims who had appointments on the day of suicide. RESULTS: Suicide intent was reportedly discussed in only 22% of the cases; it was particularly uncommon in general practice and nonpsychiatric specialist settings. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients who commit suicide do not seem to communicate their intent to do so during their last appointment.

Language: en