Citation

Cano F, Rico García A, Marin R, Blanco M, Santos M, Lucena J. Cuad. Medi. Forense 2012; 18(2): 55-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Asociación Andaluza de Médicos Forenses, Publisher Palacio de Justitia)

DOI

10.4321/S1135-76062012000200002

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The overall suicide rate has increased significantly in recent decades, not only in developed countries but also worldwide. It is important to underline the prevalence of suicide among young people 15 to 25 years old, a population in which suicide is the second leading cause of death after traffic accidents. This paper provides a descriptive epidemiological study of confirmed suicides in people less than 26 years of age, which occurred in the province of Seville during the period 2007-2010. The factors associated with suicidal behaviour are presented and compared with those published in the scientific literature on the subject. The average global rate of suicide was 1.38±0.1 cases/100.000 inhabitants with a male/female ratio of 3:1. The overall mean age was of 20.9±3.1 years (21±3 years in men and 20±4 years in women). Twenty-two per cent of suicides occurred in the capital compared to 78% in the rest of the province. Hanging was the most widely used method in both men (71%) and women (62%), followed by jumping from height. The most common location to commit suicide in both sexes was at home (72%). In 44% of cases there was a history of psychiatric illness with being depressive disorder the most frequent (50%), followed by paranoid schizophrenia (14%). Toxicological analysis was positive in 47% cases, with ethanol the most frequently detected chemical (80%), either alone or in combination with other toxics.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Autopsy; Forensic medicine; Rate; Seville; Submerged corpse