Gender differences in suicide attempts: preliminary results of the multisite intervention study on suicidal behavior (SUPRE-MISS) from Campinas, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To identify sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical differences between men and women who attempted suicide and were seen at a university general hospital.


METHODS
This is a non-controlled cross-sectional study, sub-project of the Multisite Intervention Study on Suicidal Behavior by the World Health Organization. A standardized interview that comprised psychometric scales was used. The comparison between genders was made by means of uni and multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
210 subjects (68.1% women) participated. Women had worse scores on the WHO Well-Being Index (p = 0.005), the Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.01) and the Psychiatric Disability Assessment Schedule (p = 0.03). In the multivariate logistic regression, men presented more mental disorders due to alcohol and drug use (26.1% vs 7%, p = 0.02) and used alcohol at the suicide attempt more frequently (28.3% vs 16%, p = 0.03). Men reported that most of the time they had been feeling "active and vigorous" (50% vs 22%, p < 0.001). Women had had more physical and sexual abuse (27% vs 8.7%, p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There are some distinctive characteristics between men and women who attempt suicide. Such differences may also be present in the general population and suggest there is a need for further studies, as well as the adoption of different strategies in suicide prevention for men and women.
Stefanello
Sabrina
S
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. sabrinas@fcm.unicamp.br
Cais
Carlos Filinto da Silva
CF
Mauro
Marisa Lúcia Fabrício
ML
Freitas
Gisleine Vaz Scavacini de
GV
Botega
Neury José
NJ
D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires