title: Suicide following acute traumatic spinal cord injury.
abstract: The rate of suicide following spinal cord injury has not been extensively studied but appears to be greater than in the general population. Six patients who died by suicide, from a total of 342 patients who were treated for acute spinal cord injury over a 5 year period are described. Clinical features shared by this group of patients included being male; having schizoid, depressive or narcissistic personality traits; alcohol or drug abuse; family or significant others favouring death as a preferred option; and the development of significant depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Judd
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*