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

Diagnostic, demographic, & outcome profiles were compared between psychiatric patients who ultimately committed suicide & those who did not. Results showed that the suicide group contained a greater preponderance of males & patients suffering from schizoaffective disorder or unipolar depression, & comparatively fewer patients with borderline personality disorder. The risk of suicide appeared to be correlated to illness virulence & to the magnitude of loss of healthy functioning. 25 Refs. (LH)