title: Lies ... damned lies ... and suicide statistics! 'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics'. Statement attributed to Disraeli in Mark Twain's Autobiography (1924).
abstract: In the absence of any measurable outcome in psychiatry, suicide is now regarded as an outcome measure in Mental Health Services. The National Service Framework (NSF) has set the reduction of the suicide rate by 20 per cent over the next seven years as a national priority. This article will examine how reliable suicide is as an outcome measure.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool University, 18 Broughton Close, Appleton, Warrington WA4 3DR.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salib
authors.forename: Noir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology