Evaluation of suicidal risk in depressives and schizophrenics : a 2-year follow-up study.

A very high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among the persons attempting or committing suicide has been observed by several investigators (Barraclough et al, 1974; Beck et al, 1990; Drake et al, 1985). In a study of attempted suicide Morgan et al. (1975) reported neurotic depression in 52%, personality disorder in 29% functional psychosis in 12% and alcohol addiction in 10%. Silver et al. (1971) found 80% of the attempters having depressive features. Likewise, Barracloughf1974) found 93% of the suicide being mentally ill, depression accounting for 70%.