Resource Tag: AUSTRIA

Background: Some studies have reported an increase in suicides after the start of daylight saving time (DST), but the evidence is mixed and more research about proposed mechanisms (disrupted sleep, changing light exposure) is  needed. Methods: In our preregistered study, we analyzed change in suicide rates in the 2 weeks before/after DST, based on data […]

Background: Different words used for suicide (so-called suicide referents) have different moral connotations, and neutral referents are recommended in media reporting guidelines. Aims: To assess how different referents in media reports are related to actual suicides. Method: Austrian news articles for each month between 2000 and 2021 (n = 276 months) were obtained from the Austrian Press Agency. Time series were […]

Some evidence puts health professionals at increased risk of suicide, especially females, whereas other research suggests a lower risk in high-skilled occupations. This study investigated the suicide risk of four health professions (physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists) and three other high-skilled occupations (notaries, lawyers, tax advisors/public accountants) in Austria compared to the general population, and analyzed […]

Background: A suicide awareness campaign was initiated in the Austrian federal state of Styria to increase help-seeking behavior in the population. Billboards were shown throughout Styria depicting joyful everyday-life situations with a focus on social and family connectedness, and promoting the Telephone Emergency Service, a crisis hotline. Aims: The present study investigated the impact of this campaign […]

Background: Suicide rates among police officers may be high because of strong occupational stressors. Aims: This study examined the suicide rate and suicide characteristics among police officers in the Federal Austrian Police Force. Methods: All suicides among policemen during the period 1996-2006 were analyzed retrospectively on the basis of personalized police record files from all Austrian police departments. […]

Background Major sporting events are postulated to reduce suicide rates by increased social connectedness, by identifying with winning teams, or, conversely, to increase suicide rates by the ‘broken promise effect’. Methods In our observational epidemiological study, we investigated changes in suicide rates between 1970 and 2017 in Austria, Germany and Switzerland during the European and […]

During the nineteenth century, suicide rates rose substantially in many countries, including the geographic region of the present state of Austria. Sensational news reporting about suicides may have contributed to this rise by eliciting so-called copycat suicides, a phenomenon termed the ‘Werther effect.’ We conducted a large-scale content analysis of nineteenth-century suicide reporting (N = 14,638) to […]

Objective The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate the differences in personality traits, particularly Neuroticism, in three clinical samples and three student samples in Austria and Italy and their impact on suicide. Methods In total, 1,043 people (410 psychiatric inpatients and 633 university students) were tested in three regions of Europe: central Italy, […]

The COVID-19 pandemic and containment efforts seem to be particularly challenging for adolescents. This study assessed mental health in high school students 1.5 years after the pandemic began in Austria. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from September to November 2021. Well-being (WHO-5), depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and sleep quality were assessed. A total of 1505 […]

Background: Suicide rates increased substantially in many countries during the 19th century. Little is known about news coverage on suicide in this period and its relationship to suicide rates. Aims: To test whether there was a covariation between the quantity of reporting and suicide rates and whether the press relied on sensational reporting. Method: A […]

Abstract. Background: Studies have shown that suicidal individuals who use the Internet for suicide-related purposes are more suicidal than nonsuicide-related users, but evidence from European countries is lacking.Aims: We assessed differences between suicidal individuals who go online for suicide-related purposes and other suicidal individuals in Austria. Method: Participants were 53 individuals aged between 18 and […]

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The phenomenon in which a creative work provokes a number of people to die by suicide is commonly known as the Werther Effect, in recognition of imitative suicides said to have been induced by the novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther” (1774). This chapter examines a Japanese suicide epidemic in the early 1700s that was […]

This study investigated suicide attempters’ reports on the length of time between consideration & accomplishment of a suicide attempt. 82 patients referred to a psychiatric university hospital were approached within 3 days after their attempt. Data were collected from July 2004-December 2005. Nearly half of the patients reported the period between the first current thought […]

The authors applied binomial tests to compare frequencies of social characteristics of all domestic suicides in the 13 largest Austrian print media in 2005 with frequences of suicide characteristics in the population. Results showed suicides involving murder or murder attempt were overrepresented in the media. Reporting on mental disorders was underrepresented. In the regression analysis, […]

The role of childhood gender role nonconformity & childhood harassment in explaining suicidality was examined in a sample of 142 lesbian, gay, & bisexual adults & 148 heterosexual adults in Austria. Current & previous suicidality, childhood gender role nonconformity, & childhood harassment were significantly greater in lesbian, gay, & bisexual participants compared to heterosexual participants. […]

This study investigated the course of contact rates of suicide victims with physicians during the year before death. Official suicide data & insurance company data were linked for 317 individuals who died by suicide between 1998-2002. Quarterly contact rates with physicians during the respective last year of life were compared. Contacts with any physicians & […]

Attitudes towards suicide among medical students in Madras & Vienna were compared. Results showed a very restrictive attitude in Madras, rejecting the right to die by suicide, nearly always judging suicide as a cowardly act, & rejecting the idea of assisted suicide. A more permissive attitude was found in the Vienna sample. The Indian pattern […]

This study analyzed the longitudinal trends of rural & urban suicides in Austria from 1970-2005. The decade, 1995-2005, was also investigated cross-sectionally in terms of age groups, gender, suicide methods, & family status. The ratio of rural to urban suicide rates continuously increased in both genders over the 35 years, indicating a growing risk in […]

This study compared attitudes towards suicide among regional politicians in Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, & Sweden. The Attitudes Towards Suicide questionnaire was used. Results indicated the acceptance of suicide was higher among Lithuanian, Hungarian, & Austrian politicians (high suicide rate, no national prevention strategies) than among Norwegian & Swedish politicians (relatively low suicide rates, national […]

The effects of suicide films on recipients’ emotional & mental states, as well as the influence of censorship, was studied. 154 nonsuicidal Austrian subjects watched the original or a censored version of a suicide film or a drama without suicide. Data were collected by questionnaires. The viewing led to a deterioration of mood & an […]

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This Austrian study estimated the cost-effectiveness of escitalopram compared with citalopram in the management of severe depression. A decision model incorporated treatment paths & associated direct resource use & the indirect cost of work absenteeism over a 6-month period. Six months after the start of treatment, the overall clinical success remission rate was higher for […]