Ulcer, attempted suicide and suicide.

Attempted suicide and suicide have been investigated among 2,619 patients suffering from duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and ulcer dyspepsia without ulcer demonstrable by x-ray. There was no difference in the percentage of attempted suicides and suicides among the three ulcer groups or between the sexes. Within well-defined periods, there was a statistically significant greater excess of attempted suicides among patients operated on than among unoperated patients. The distribution according to psychiatric diagnosis was very similar to the one observed among persons in general in Copenhagen attempting suicide. The number of patients committing suicide exceeded the expected number significantly, for men as well as for women, but there was no difference between patients operated on and unoperated patients. The psychiatric diagnoses of those committing suicide were predominantly neuroses and psychopathy.