title: Risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts in Malaysia--results of an epidemiological survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is an epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of suicidal behavior and its association with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in a nationally representative sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suicidal ideation, plans and attempts were assessed in face-to-face interviews of respondents selected by a multistage probability sampling using items on suicidality from the WHO SUPRE-MISS questionnaire. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to generate DSM-IV diagnoses of GAD and MDD. A total of 19309 subjects were studied. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted controlling for demographic characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence estimates for suicide ideation, plans and attempts were 1.7% (95% CI: 1.4-1.9), 0.9% (CI: 0.7-1.1) and 0.5% (CI: 0.4-0.7) respectively. Younger people (16-24 years) had higher risk of suicidal behavior (OR: 2.6, CI: 1.08-6.2). Females (OR: 1.6, CI: 1.2-2.1) and Indians (OR: 3.3, CI: 2.2-4.9) also had higher risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of suicidal behavior in Malaysia is low, but it broadly corresponds to the pattern described in other countries. This national study confirms that Malaysians of Indian descent have much higher rates of suicidal behavior than other groups. The younger age group, females and the Indian ethnic group would need focused preventive efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National University of Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: tmaniam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maniam
authors.forename: Midin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marhani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Firdaus
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kadir
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mazni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizul
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Salina
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fadzillah
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nurashikin
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jasvindar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noor Ani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult