Suicide Attempted by Burning: a 10-Year Study of Self-Immolation Deaths

In a 10-year retrospective survey of 699 admissions to the Burns Center of Verona, 31 patients attempted suicide by burning. No gender difference was found & the mean age of people who attempted suicide was 38 years. 12 patients died as a result of their injuries. A large number of patients had a history of previous psychiatric treatment & 6 patients had previously attempted suicide. The authors report that the patients in this study have a higher mortality rate than the general population & require constant psychiatric support. (14 refs) (SC)