Possible Potentiation of Suicide Risk in Patients with EEG Dysrhythmias Taking Oral Contraceptives: a Speculative Empirical Note

In a study of 160 female psychiatric patients aged 14 to 48, the possibility that increased suicide risk may be associated with combined paroxysmal EEG dysrhythmia & recent oral contraceptive use is offered for speculative heuristic purpose. The retrospective cross-sectional method with limited samples does not permit firm conclusions or generalization beyond these data. Additional support of these empirical associations by further study could be pragmatically valuable in helping to identify an important clinical subgroup of high potential suicide risk. (12 refs)