Suicide in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a Clinical Analysis of Seven Suicidal Patients

The clinical records of seven suicidal patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied. One patient died by suicide while on no therapy & five made their attempts under the tapering courses of steriods. All patients attempted suicide shortly after admission to a Tokyo hospital. The subsequent courses of survivors who received more medication were favourable. It is recommended that patients with psychosis, insomnia, history of photosensitivity, an incompletely controlled disease state, on tapering steroid dose, diffuse slowings on electroencephalograms & the presence of hypocomplementemia be under psychiatric care for at least 2 months to prevent suicide. (36 refs.)