What does psychological autopsy study tell us about charcoal burning suicide--a new and contagious method in Asia?
Charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong between 2002-2004 in the 15 to 59-year-old age group were investigated using the psychological autopsy method. The psychopathological profiles of charcoal burning suicides (N = 53) were compared against "other suicides" (N = 97). The two groups did not differ significantly in the prevalence of DSM-IV axis I diagnoses with the exception of schizophrenic spectrum disorder which was less frequently associated with charcoal burning suicides. Score on "neuroticism" in the NEO-five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was significantly higher in victims of charcoal burning suicide. There was also a trend toward higher score on "conscientiousness" in the NEO-FFI among charcoal burners than victims of other suicide.
Chan
Sandra S M
SS
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, N.T. Hong Kong SAR. schan@cuhk.edu.hk
Chiu
Helen F K
HF
Chen
Eric Y H
EY
Chan
Wincy S C
WS
Wong
Paul W C
PW
Chan
Cecilia L W
CL
Law
Y W
YW
Yip
Paul S F
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires