Diego De Leo1, Brian M Draper, John Snowdon, Kairi Kõlves. 1. Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane. Electronic address: D.DeLeo@griffith.edu.au.
Abstract
AIM: This study aims to examine contacts with different health professionals in the three months prior to death in suicide cases compared to sudden death controls; and, to analyse contacts with health professionals among people who died by suicide having a diagnosable mental health disorder at the time of suicide compared to those who did not have such a diagnosis within four major groups of conditions. METHODS: The psychological autopsy method was utilised to investigate suicides of individuals over the age of 35years. A case-control study design was applied using sudden death cases as controls. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 261 suicides and 182 sudden deaths were involved. In terms of contacts during the last three months prior to death, 76.9% of suicides and 81.9% of sudden deaths visited a general practitioner (GP). Persons who died by suicide had significantly more frequently contacts with mental health professionals than sudden death controls did. People with a diagnosable mental health disorder at the time of suicide attended GP surgeries with approximately the same frequency of people without a diagnosis at GP level. CONCLUSION: Similarly, approximately 90% of people who die by suicide and by sudden death seek for help from health care system, mainly from GPs in three months prior to their death. With reference to health care contacts, people who had or did not have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder are not distinguishable at the GP surgery level.
AIM: This study aims to examine contacts with different health professionals in the three months prior to death in suicide cases compared to sudden death controls; and, to analyse contacts with health professionals among people who died by suicide having a diagnosable mental health disorder at the time of suicide compared to those who did not have such a diagnosis within four major groups of conditions. METHODS: The psychological autopsy method was utilised to investigate suicides of individuals over the age of 35years. A case-control study design was applied using sudden death cases as controls. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 261 suicides and 182 sudden deaths were involved. In terms of contacts during the last three months prior to death, 76.9% of suicides and 81.9% of sudden deaths visited a general practitioner (GP). Persons who died by suicide had significantly more frequently contacts with mental health professionals than sudden death controls did. People with a diagnosable mental health disorder at the time of suicide attended GP surgeries with approximately the same frequency of people without a diagnosis at GP level. CONCLUSION: Similarly, approximately 90% of people who die by suicide and by sudden death seek for help from health care system, mainly from GPs in three months prior to their death. With reference to health care contacts, people who had or did not have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder are not distinguishable at the GP surgery level.
Authors: Francis B Annor; Rana A Bayakly; Reynolds A Morrison; Michael J Bryan; Leah K Gilbert; Asha Z Ivey-Stephenson; Kristin M Holland; Thomas R Simon Journal: J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol Date: 2018-11-26 Impact factor: 2.680
Authors: A A M Hubers; S Moaddine; S H M Peersmann; T Stijnen; E van Duijn; R C van der Mast; O M Dekkers; E J Giltay Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2016-12-19 Impact factor: 6.892
Authors: Kenneth R Conner; Benjamin P Chapman; Annette L Beautrais; David A Brent; Jeffrey A Bridge; Yeates Conwell; Tyler Falter; Amanda Holbrook; Barbara Schneider Journal: Suicide Life Threat Behav Date: 2021-02-08