Psychiatric Aspects of Suicidal Behaviour: Depression (IN: The International Handbook of Suicide and Attempted Suicide, edited by K Hawton & K van Heeringen)

Suicide risk is elevated in all mental disorders, but particularly so in depressive disorders, with a 20-fold increase for major depression. Suicide in depression is particularly common among subjects with comorbid mental & physical disorders. Lithium treatment is associated with a long-sustained reduction of suicidal behaviours in bipolar disorder. Attempted suicide is common in the course of depressive disorders. However, adequate treatment is lacking for suicide attempters & in cases of completed suicide. The best possible treatment for depression is urgently needed for effective suicide prevention. (59 refs.)