title: Psychiatric comorbidity and gender differences among suicide attempters in Bangalore, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicides are an entirely preventable cause of death, with current suicide rates being 11.4 per 100,000 population in India. The city of Bangalore in India is often called the suicide capital of India because of its high suicide and attempted suicide rate. This study attempted to evaluate the psychiatric comorbidity and gender differences among suicide attempters presenting to a general hospital in the city of Bangalore, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a structured questionnaire [Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)-I and SCID-II], the study gathered data on the psychiatric diagnoses as well as the reasons for and mode of attempted suicides on 100 suicide attempters after taking written informed consent. In addition, the Beck Depression Inventory was also used to evaluate the severity of depression, the most commonly detected psychiatric comorbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two percent of the sample had a psychiatric comorbidity, with depression (14%) and dysthymia (12%) being the most common disorders. Among personality disorders (PDs), borderline PD (5%) and dependent PD (3%) were the most commonly detected. Severe depression was detected in 15% of those with a mood disorder. Gender differences were found in both mode and reasons for attempted suicide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of any psychiatric comorbidity was observed to confer a high risk of suicide. All attempters should therefore be comprehensively evaluated by a qualified health care professional, and attempts should be made for continuous follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Gopalkrishnan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vishnuvardhan
authors.forename: Sahoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saddichha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult