Risk of Suicide After a Suicide Attempt and Psychiatric Disorders
Author Information
Author(s): Dag Tidemalm, Niklas Långström, Paul Lichtenstein, Bo Runeson
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
The study investigates the impact of coexisting psychiatric disorders on the risk of suicide following a suicide attempt.
Conclusion
The type of psychiatric disorder present during a suicide attempt significantly affects the risk of completed suicide.
Supporting Evidence
- Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder significantly increase the risk of completed suicide after a suicide attempt.
- 14-64% of suicides occurred within the first year of follow-up.
- The highest short-term risk was associated with bipolar and unipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
- Population attributable fractions indicated that other depressive disorders had a significant impact on suicide risk.
Takeaway
If someone tries to hurt themselves, having certain mental health issues can make it more likely they'll try again or succeed later. It's really important to help them, especially in the first couple of years after their attempt.
Methodology
Cohort study with follow-up for 21-31 years using national registers to track suicide attempts and outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of psychiatric disorders due to the timing of diagnoses.
Limitations
The study only included individuals who were hospitalized for suicide attempts, which may not represent all individuals at risk.
Participant Demographics
The cohort consisted of 39,685 individuals (53% women) who attempted suicide between 1973-1982.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI for hazard ratios ranged from 2.5 to 4.1 depending on the disorder.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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