title: Beyond psychopathology: A case-control psychological autopsy study of young adult males.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As young Australian males are at a high risk of suicide, the identification of risk factors other than psychopathology is vital for the development of comprehensive suicide prevention measures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated whether there were differences in risk factors and pathways to suicide in young adult males from Queensland, Australia, with and without a diagnosable psychiatric disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control, psychological autopsy method was applied using a control group of young males who had died suddenly from causes other than suicide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicide cases without a psychiatric diagnosis more frequently displayed behaviours indicative of their suicidality (such as previous attempts, disposing of possessions and making statements of hopelessness) than controls without a diagnosis. Suicides without a diagnosis also displayed more 'difficult' personality traits, such as higher levels of neuroticism and aggression. They also experienced poorer quality of life and were significantly more likely than their controls to have experienced a recent separation from a spouse or partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study confirmed the existence of several distinct characteristics of young males who die by suicide in the absence of any diagnosable psychiatric disorder.
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Kairi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kõlves
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Leo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011793:Queensland; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Australia; Psychiatric disorder; psychological autopsy; suicide; young males