BACKGROUND: The vast majority of suicides suffer from at least one mental disorder at the time of death. AIMS: To identify risk factors for suicide, particularly those independent of current DSM-III-R Axis I disorder(s). METHOD: A case-control psychological autopsy study comparing suicides with matched community controls. RESULTS: Independent risk factors for suicide included: Axis II (personality) disorder (particularly antisocial, avoidant and dependent); at least one of 12 life events (from the List of Threatening Experiences) during the previous 52 or 4 weeks (in particular, a 'serious problem with close friend, neighbour or relative'); current unemployment; previous history of deliberate self-harm; and contact with a GP within 26 weeks. Relative to individuals with no current mental disorder, the estimated risk of suicide in those with Axis I-Axis II comorbidity (OR 346.0) was significantly greater than that in those with Axis I disorder(s) only (OR 52.4). CONCLUSIONS: Suicide risk assessment may be enhanced by enquiry about the aforementioned independent risk factors, and attention to Axis I-Axis II comorbidity.
BACKGROUND: The vast majority of suicides suffer from at least one mental disorder at the time of death. AIMS: To identify risk factors for suicide, particularly those independent of current DSM-III-R Axis I disorder(s). METHOD: A case-control psychological autopsy study comparing suicides with matched community controls. RESULTS: Independent risk factors for suicide included: Axis II (personality) disorder (particularly antisocial, avoidant and dependent); at least one of 12 life events (from the List of Threatening Experiences) during the previous 52 or 4 weeks (in particular, a 'serious problem with close friend, neighbour or relative'); current unemployment; previous history of deliberate self-harm; and contact with a GP within 26 weeks. Relative to individuals with no current mental disorder, the estimated risk of suicide in those with Axis I-Axis II comorbidity (OR 346.0) was significantly greater than that in those with Axis I disorder(s) only (OR 52.4). CONCLUSIONS: Suicide risk assessment may be enhanced by enquiry about the aforementioned independent risk factors, and attention to Axis I-Axis II comorbidity.
Authors: Anne C Knorr; Matthew T Tull; Michael D Anestis; Katherine L Dixon-Gordon; Mary F Bennett; Kim L Gratz Journal: Arch Suicide Res Date: 2016-03-08
Authors: Maurizio Pompili; Gianluca Serafini; Marco Innamorati; Giovanni Dominici; Stefano Ferracuti; Giorgio D Kotzalidis; Giulia Serra; Paolo Girardi; Luigi Janiri; Roberto Tatarelli; Leo Sher; David Lester Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2010-03-29 Impact factor: 3.390