Discriminating Characteristics of Suicides: Chestnut Lodge Follow-up Sample Including Patients With Affective Disorder, Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

Diagnostic, demographic, and outcome profiles were compared between psychiatric inpatients and former inpatients who ultimately commited suicide and those who did not. Results showed that the suicide group contained a greater preponderance of males and patients suffering from schizoaffective disorder or unipolar depression, and comparatively fewer patients with borderline personality disorder. The risk of suicide appeared to be correlated with to illness virulence.