Suicide and patients with neurologic diseases. Methodologic problems.
OBJECTIVE
The suicide risk in patients with many neurologic diseases has been reported to be greater than that in the general population. Studies on the subject are, however, often encumbered with methodologic problems. We appraised these problems and, based on an evaluation, reappraised knowledge of the suicide risk in patients with specific neurologic diseases.


METHODS
Using the computerized database MEDLINE, we identified all published reports with the key words suicide, attempted suicide, and neurologic diseases.


METHODS
We assessed and reviewed studies concerning the most common neurologic diseases for methodologic problems in the study design.


METHODS
The following methodologic problems emerged during our review: (1) choice of study type, ie, autopsy study or follow-up study; (2) choice of study population; (3) choice of control groups; (4) epidemiologic/statistical methods used; and (5) validity of statistics reported.


RESULTS
We analyzed the methodologic problems in studies of patients with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington's chorea, spinal cord lesions, cranial trauma, brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, vascular disorders, and migraine. In most of the studies, the methods used gave rise to uncertainty about the conclusion presented.


CONCLUSIONS
An increased suicide risk was found in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and spinal cord lesions as well as in selected groups of patients with epilepsy. In other neurologic diseases, the suicide risk may be increased, but the results are uncertain due to the methodologic problems in the study design.
Stenager
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EN
Department of Psychiatry, Odense University, Denmark.
Stenager
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D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000523:psychology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide; D013406:Suicide, Attempted