Dog and cat ownership among suicides and matched controls.

In Washington County, Maryland, ownership of cats and/or dogs was compared among 48 residents who committed suicide in the years 1975-83 and 96 living controls matched to the suicides by race, sex, and date of birth. Another comparison used as controls persons of same race, sex, and age who died of causes other than suicide in the same year as the suicide. No material association between pet ownership and suicide was observed.