A Comparison of Hospitalized Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Psychiatric Patients, With a Long-Term Follow Up (IN: Suicide Research Proceedings of the Seminars, by Yrjo Jahnsson Foundation, 1974-1977)

Study subjects were 2 groups of patients treated at the Psychiatric Clinic in Helsinki 1951-54. 1 group was suicide attempters (n=209); the other group (n=209) were randomly selected patients who had not made such attempts. The aim of the study was to examine the occurrence of successful suicides in the 2 groups during a 21.5 year follow-up period. It was found that 7.7% of the attempter group had committed suicide vs. 2.4% of the non-attempters. Significant risk indicators are discussed. (NBB)