title: [Descriptive epidemiology of suicide in Spain (1906-1990)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Spain, suicide as a cause of death is increasing in different age groups in both sexes. The aim of the present work is to characterize the phenomenon of suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective descriptive epidemiological study was carried out. Data periodically published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) on the statistical Incidence of Suicides in Spain (1906-1990) were analyzed, processed and tabulated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicide increases with age and this increase is more pronounced as from 40 years of age. The ratio between sexes is 3:1 in favour of men, although with a tendency to decrease. The most important causes of suicide are: physical suffering (27%), psychopathy (18%) and Daily Activities (DA) (17.5%). The method most used is hanging, which has been the case of 37% of the suicides committed in Spain during the study period (1906-1990).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk factors associated with suicide are age, male sex, and physical and mental suffering.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mirón Canelo
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sáenz González
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanco Montagut
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández Martín
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*