Suicide now and then ... an elusive comparison: invited commentary on: Lifetime suicide rates in treated schizophrenia: 1875-1924 and 1994-1998 cohorts compared.
Comparing suicide rates between Victorian and modern times, and the impact of the asylum, should enable a useful historical perspective on how effective our treatment approaches really are. Difficulties include clarifying the 'social geography', the underlying diagnoses, the reasons for admission and the reliability of case book data and follow-up arrangements.
Turner
Trevor
T
Department of Psychiatry, East Wing, Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London E9 6QR, UK. trevor.turner@elcmht.nhs.uk
D001294:Attitude to Health; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000266:history* / Q000401:mortality; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology