title: Preliminary findings of noncompliance with psychotropic medication and prevalence of methamphetamine intoxication associated with suicide completion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A study of medical examiner records from suicide completers was designed to identify potential precipitating factors in the decision to commit suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forensic data has been collected for a subset of suicide victims in Utah who completed suicide between 1996 and 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth suicide completers appear to be undiagnosed for mental illness, or to be noncompliant with psychotropic medications. Along with treatment issues, alcohol and methamphetamine were the most common substances found in the blood and/or urine of suicide completers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate diagnosis of mental illness, and improved compliance with psychotropic medications may play a critical role in suicide prevention. The prevalence of methamphetamine in suicide completers is unexpectedly high and requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Callor
authors.forename: Everett
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lamoreaux
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008694:Methamphetamine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*; D014589:Utah; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine