Clinical Predictors of Completed Suicide and Repeated Self-Poisoning in 8895 Self-Poisoning Patients
Allgulander C~~Fisher L D
The diagnoses of 8895 patients who were admitted for intentional self-poisoning with psychoactive drugs were studied in order to find predictors for subsequent completed suicide & repeated self-poisoning. Automated record linkage by means of Swedish personal identification numbers was performed. With Cox regression models, several diagnostic predictors were identified although they were generally unspecific & insensitive. This may be due both to the low base rate of suicides, & to the omission of other more powerful non-clinical predictors, such as personality traits, hopelessness, & social disruption. It is concluded that secondary psychiatric prevention may still be justified, although it will be applied to large numbers of patients who will not eventually complete suicide or repeat self-poisoning. (37 refs.)