Anna Cibis1, Roland Mergl2, Anke Bramesfeld1, David Althaus3, Günter Niklewski4, Armin Schmidtke5, Ulrich Hegerl1. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: Roland.Mergl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de. 3. Praxis for Psychotherapy, Dachau, Germany. 4. Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In most countries worldwide suicide rates are higher for males whereas attempted suicide rates are higher for females. The aim is to investigate if the choice of more lethal methods by males explains gender differences in suicide rates. METHODS: Data on completed and attempted suicides were collected (n=3235, Nuremberg and Wuerzburg, years 2000-2004). The research question was analyzed by comparing the method-specific case fatality (= completed suicides/completed+attempted suicides) for males and females. RESULTS: Among the events captured, men chose high-risk methods like hanging significantly more often than women (φ=-0.27; p<0.001). However, except for drowning, case fatalities were higher for males than for females within each method. This was most apparent in "hanging" (men 83.5%, women 55.3%; φ=-0.28; p<0.001) and "poisoning by drugs" (men 7.2%, women 3.4%; φ=-0.09; p<0.001). LIMITATIONS: The sample size (n=3235) was not enough for comparing method and gender specific case fatalities with a fine-meshed stratification regarding age. CONCLUSIONS: Higher suicide rates in males not only result from the choice of more lethal methods. Other factors have to be considered.
BACKGROUND: In most countries worldwide suicide rates are higher for males whereas attempted suicide rates are higher for females. The aim is to investigate if the choice of more lethal methods by males explains gender differences in suicide rates. METHODS: Data on completed and attempted suicides were collected (n=3235, Nuremberg and Wuerzburg, years 2000-2004). The research question was analyzed by comparing the method-specific case fatality (= completed suicides/completed+attempted suicides) for males and females. RESULTS: Among the events captured, men chose high-risk methods like hanging significantly more often than women (φ=-0.27; p<0.001). However, except for drowning, case fatalities were higher for males than for females within each method. This was most apparent in "hanging" (men 83.5%, women 55.3%; φ=-0.28; p<0.001) and "poisoning by drugs" (men 7.2%, women 3.4%; φ=-0.09; p<0.001). LIMITATIONS: The sample size (n=3235) was not enough for comparing method and gender specific case fatalities with a fine-meshed stratification regarding age. CONCLUSIONS: Higher suicide rates in males not only result from the choice of more lethal methods. Other factors have to be considered.
Authors: Jacqueline Nesi; Taylor A Burke; Alexandra H Bettis; Anastacia Y Kudinova; Elizabeth C Thompson; Heather A MacPherson; Kara A Fox; Hannah R Lawrence; Sarah A Thomas; Jennifer C Wolff; Melanie K Altemus; Sheiry Soriano; Richard T Liu Journal: Clin Psychol Rev Date: 2021-05-08
Authors: Roland Mergl; Nicole Koburger; Katherina Heinrichs; András Székely; Mónika Ditta Tóth; James Coyne; Sónia Quintão; Ella Arensman; Claire Coffey; Margaret Maxwell; Airi Värnik; Chantal van Audenhove; David McDaid; Marco Sarchiapone; Armin Schmidtke; Axel Genz; Ricardo Gusmão; Ulrich Hegerl Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-06 Impact factor: 3.240