Citation

Campbell C, Fahy T. Psychiatry 2005; 4(11): 65-67.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Medicine Publishing Company Ltd.)

DOI

10.1383/psyt.2005.4.11.65

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Approximately 10% of patients with schizophrenia kill themselves. Risk factors for suicide in schizophrenia include a pattern of severe illness, non-adherance with treatment, prior depression and self harm, treatment non-response and critical point of transition, including first admission and the period following discharge. Treatment with clozapine may reduce the risk of suicide. Evaluation of psychosocial interventions in reduction of suicidal behaviour is problematic because of the large sample sizes required to give adequate statistical power to these studies. Strategies which combine comprehensive risk assessment with a flexible, well co-ordinated risk management plan may be the most effective method of reducing suicide risk in ordinary clinical practice. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; self-harm; depression; schizophrenia; risk assessment; clozapine; anti-psychotic