Citation

Schmidtke A, Weinacker B, Fricke S. MMW Munch. Med. Wochenschr. 1998; 140(4): 38-42.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Verlagsgesellschaft OttoSpatz)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In Germany, in 1996, 8728 males and 3497 females committed suicide. The suicide rate for males is 21.8, for females 8.3. Within the European states, the rates for Germany are under the mean value. There are long-term decreases in the suicide rates in the area of the former German Democratic Republic as well as in the area of the former Federal Republic of Germany. In the younger age groups, completed suicides represent the second most important cause of death immediately following car accidents. In all age groups, the "hard" suicide methods were predominately found. Particular risk groups are patients with depressive disorders, schizophrenia, alcoholism, patients with drug dependence, older and isolated persons, persons who have threatened suicide, persons with a previous suicide attempt, somatically ill persons - especially if the illness is chronical, or persons with minimal or no chance of recovery, or with a high risk of a lethal outcome, and prisoners, above all those prisoners awaiting trial. The estimated suicide attempt rates for Germany, in 1996, were 122/100000 for males and 147/100000 for females. The relation between completed suicides and attempted suicides is about 1:5 for males and 1:15 for females. The suicide attempt rates have almost stabilized since 1985, and fallen to about half (males) or a third (for females) of the high rates of the mid seventies. The frequency of suicide and attempted suicide is overrepresented in areas and groups which reveal a lack of social integration.

Language: de

Keywords

Epidemiology; Frequency, risk factors; Suicides, attempted suicides