Suicide in the Lundby Study: A Controlled Prospective Investigation of Stressful Life Events

Investigated the role of stressful life events in completed suicides & the extent to which similar experiences occurred in corresponding periods of life among non-suicidal persons. Acute psychiatric illness was the most prominent factor immediately preceding the suicide. More suicides than controls had experienced undesirable events. Findings suggest that persons who finally commit suicide have received more than their share of life’s hardships. Medical prophylactic measures are discussed.