title: Prevalence of suicidal behaviours in two Australian general population surveys: methodological considerations when comparing across studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether methodological differences between two Australian general population surveys have the capacity to affect the apparent prevalence rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
  
  
  METHODS
  609 Wave 1 of the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project participants, and 83 participants derived from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHWB) met the criteria for inclusion (suicidal ideation/suicide attempt). Analysis involved Chi-square and binary logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve-month prevalence rates for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt were 8.2%, (95% CI = 7.6-8.8) and 0.8% (95% CI = 0.6-1.0) for PATH (N = 7,485), and contrast with 2.9% (95% CI = 2.6-3.2) and 0.3% (95% CI = 0.2-0.5) for NSMHWB (N = 10,641) samples, respectively. While notable discrepancies are apparent between the prevalence statistics, both sets of statistics are within the bounds of other Australian and international studies. Parallel rate disparities for suicidal ideation are found across age-by-gender groups. Aside from differences in the basic prevalence rates, surveys have analogous age-by-gender profiles for suicidal ideation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While it is possible that samples are representative of the populations from which they are derived, 12-month prevalence rate discrepancies between PATH and NSMHWB surveys are likely to originate from demographic and survey methodology differences. Where investigations employ different methodologies, especially in relation to modes of survey administration and the assessment items utilised, a cautious approach should be taken when comparing findings.
authors: School of Psychology, Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. kate.fairweather-schmidt@adelaide.edu.au
authors: A Kate
authors: AK
authors: Fairweather-Schmidt
authors: Kaarin J
authors: KJ
authors: Anstey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data