Changes in suicidal behavior among nation-wide general population samples across Greece.

During recent years, two nationwide cross-sectional domestic surveys on psychosocial issues and health status were carried out in Greece. Both studies were conducted with identical methodology (personal interview) and screening instruments, with probability samples of 4083 adults aged 20-64 years (study A) and 3708 respondents of the same age range (study B). The time interval between the first and the second study was 6 years. The presence of self-reported suicidal behavior during the last month prior to the interview was examined. In study A, 2.8% of males and 6.8% of females respondents reported a recent suicide ideation compared to 6.4% of the males and 14.9% of the female suicide ideators in study B. However, only 0.27% of the males and 1.10% of the females in study A attempted suicide. These proportions were doubled in study B. The prevalence of depressive symptoms on the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale was high among the respondents reporting a previous suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Discriminant analysis revealed several social and psychiatric factors predicting suicidal behavior.