Citation

Spießl H, Hübner-Liebermann B, Neuner T, Hegerl U, Klein HE, Hajak G. Nervenheilkd. 2009; 28(4): 205-210.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0038-1628607

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Since 2003 the ŽRegensburg Alliance against Depression" as regional partner of the ŽGerman Alliance against Depression" is carrying out the successful Nuremberg pilot project with its four level intervention program for improving care of patients with depression. After a 4-year campaign the suicide rates before and after the intervention were evaluated in comparison with two control regions. The results show that the suicide rates in Regensburg significantly decrease compared to baseline (2002) by 46,5% (2003), 72,1% (2004), 33,6% (2005) 50,3% (2006) and 42,3% (2007), respectively, whereas only a slight decrease was found in the control regions and countrywide. Further statistical methods - considering the problem to obtain sufficient statistical power - confirmed a significant decrease of suicide rates at least in 2004, the year of most activities. The reduction of the suicide rates in Regensburg is due to the decrease in male suicides. As conclusion, an intensive regional alliance against depression, lasting many years, is effective to reduce suicides. © Schattauer 2009.

Language: de

Keywords

adult; Prevention; human; Depression; suicide; Suicide; female; male; Psychiatry; depression; sex difference; article; controlled study; clinical article; high risk population; patient care; geographic distribution; support group; clinical evaluation