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Antecedents of suicide in people with schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2018

Hannele Heilä ,
Erkki T. Isometsä ,
Markus M. Henriksson ,
Marti E. Heikkinen ,
Mauri J. Marttunen  and
Jouko K. Lönnqvist
Hannele Heilä*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Erkki T. Isometsä
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Markus M. Henriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Marti E. Heikkinen
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Mauri J. Marttunen
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Jouko K. Lönnqvist
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
*
Dr Hannele Heilä, National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Mannerheimintie 166. FIN-00300. Helsinki, Finland. Tel: 358-9-4744 8313; Fax: 358-9-4744 8478; e-mail: Hannele.Heila@ktl.fi
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Abstract

Background

Suicides among people with schizophrenia are commonly believed to be impulsive and to occur unexpectedly.

Method

As part of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland, a nationwide psychological autopsy study, suicide victims with DSM-III-R schizophrenia (n=86; n=64 in the active illness phase) and others (n=1 109; n=666 without any evidence for psychosis) were compared for communication of suicidal intent (CSI), as well as previous suicide attempts known by the next of kin and/or an attending health care professional during the latest treatment relationship.

Results

More victims with schizophrenia (84%) had a history of previous CSI, and/or had made previous suicide attempt(s) than others (70%). Also, victims with active illness schizophrenia (56%) had more CSI and/or had made suicide attempts during their last three months than victims with no psychosis (41%).

Conclusions

CSI and/or suicide attempts occur at least as often in people with schizophrenia as in those without schizophrenia, even in the active phase of the illness.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 4 , October 1998 , pp. 330 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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