Predicting Suicidal Risk in Schizophrenic and Schizoaffective Patients in a Prospective Two-Year Trial

This study followed 980 patients at high risk for suicide in a multicenter prospective study for 2 years after randomization to clozapine or olanzapine. A priori predictors related to diagnosis, treatment resistance, & clinical constructs of disease symptoms were evaluated as possible predictors of subsequent suicide-related events. Ten baseline univariate predictors were identified. Clozapine, in general, was more effective than olanzapine in decreasing the risk of suicidality, regardless of the risk factors present. (42 refs)