Attempted suicide predicts suicide risk in mood disorders.
Suicide risk was studied in a sample of 346 mood disorder inpatients, 92 of whom were admitted after a current suicide attempt. The overall suicide mortality after a mean observation period of 6 years was 8%. The potential of attempted suicide to predict suicide risk in hospitalized patients with mood disorders was studied by survival analysis after subgrouping on the basis of whether a current suicide attempt had occurred or not. The suicide risk the first year after attempting suicide was 12% (11/92), compared with 2% (4/254) in the mood disorder subgroup with no current suicide attempt. The long-range suicide risk after a current suicide attempt in depression was 15% (14/92) as compared with 5% (13/254) among those without a current suicide attempt. It is concluded that a current suicide attempt in mood disorder inpatients predicts suicide risk particularly within the first year and should be taken very seriously.
Nordström
P
P
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Asberg
M
M
Aberg-Wistedt
A
A
Nordin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012306:Risk; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention