Suicide Patterns Among Physicians Related to Other Academics as Well as to the General Population: Results From a National Long-Term Prospective Study and a Retrospective Study

A national cohort of physicians, academics, & the Swedish general population were followed for a 10-year period. All cases of suicide during 1961-1970 were identified. A retrospective study of suicide among the four major medical specialties (general practitioners, internists, psychiatrists, & general surgeons) was conducted & results were compared with other medical specialists. Results show an elevated standardized mortality ratio for suicide among female physicians compared to other academics as well as to the general population. Male doctors exhibit an elevated suicide rate only when compared to other academics. Among the various specialists, general surgeons alone exhibited a significantly elevated suicide rate. (17 refs.)