Citation

Hagnell O, Rorsman B. Neuropsychobiology 1979; 5(2): 61-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Karger Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

431800

Abstract

28 cases of suicide committed in a Swedish population subjected to repeated psychiatric investigations are described. Two groups of controls were selected from the same population: sex- and age-matched living persons (normal group) and sex-matched persons who had died from organic disease at ages corresponding to those at which the individuals in the suicide group had taken their lives (deceased group). The three groups were compared concerning clinical circumstances regarded to have been of importance for the final suicidal act. Interest was focused on events that had occurred during the year prior to suicide. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 93% of the suicide group, in 60% of the deceased group, and in 32% of the normal group. Depression was the main diagnosis (50%) in the suicide group, organic brain syndrome in decreased and normals. Medical advice was sought more often (75%) by the suicide group than by normal controls (34%) and about equally often as by the deceased control (84%). 10 of the suicide persons with depressive illness had never seen a psychiatrist.

Language: en