Schizophrenia – a High-Risk Factor for Suicide: Clues to Risk Reduction

It is important among schizophrenic persons to assess depression & suicidal ideation especially during index admission & during acute phases of the illness. It is noteworthy that schizophrenic persons often commit suicide as the overall level of psychopathology decreases during a nonpsychotic phase. Research has yielded salient risk factors for suicide among schizophrenics & “types” of vulnerable patients, even though statistical prediction of individual suicides has not proveffective. (47 refs)