Suicide Risk in Schizophrenia: an Analysis of 17 Consecutive Suicides

This study examined factors related to the recognition of suicide risk in patients with schizophrenia. The study focused on 17 patients who had completed suicide in the Finnish province of Kuopio between April 1987-March 1988. Males & females completed suicide in equal proportions. Most had suffered from schizophrenia for more than 15 years. Results suggest that withdrawal by a patient with schizophrenia & an increase in the patient’s paranoid behavior should be regarded as suicide risk factors.