Year: 1989 Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine, v.4, no.1, (Jan.-Feb. 1989), p.1-6 SIEC No: 19900135

Medical records data for suicides & for symptomatically depressed & non-depressed enrollees of an HMO were compared in order to address the role of primary care physicians in suicide prevention. Suicidal ideation & behavior, selected psychiatric diagnoses, & interpersonal problems were associated with suicide. There were no substantial differences in the use of medical services between the suicides & the controls. Less than 20% of suicides had seen a doctor in the last month prior to death.