The Iowa Record-Linkage Study: I. Suicides and Accidental Deaths Among Psychiatric Patients

An investigation of 5,412 formerly hospitalized psychiatric patients revealed that 68 had committed suicide & 38 had died from accidental causes. At highest risk for suicide were: males under 30 years of age; females aged 30-39, up to 6 months after discharge; male schizophrenics; & both males & females with affective disorders. Those who died accidental death were most likely to be in the 30-49 age group with personality disorders. 33 ref. (NBB)