Risk Factors for Suicide in Young People Suffering From Schizophrenia: a Long-Term Follow-Up Study

A case-control study is presented of 63 patients who completed suicide & 63 controls from a consecutive admission series of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. All patients were under the age of 30. Risk factors for suicide were male gender, chronic illness with frequent relapses, frequent short hospitalization, a negative attitude towards treatment, impulsive behaviour, parasuicide, high pre-morbid IQ, psychosis & depression. Early onset of a defect state & a daily activity were protective factors. (36 refs.)