Characteristics of Suicide Attempters With Depressive Disorders

This study clarified characteristics of depression & measures to prevent suicide by comparing depression with other mental disorders. Patients with depression were significantly more often aged, males, married, & used methods other than poisoning compared with patients with other mental disorders. Particularly, the major risk factors of attempted suicide – younger age & female gender – did not apply to the depressed patients in this study. Results suggest that approaches such as intensive psychiatric treatment may lead to the prevention of suicide in older male patients with depression who have attempted suicide. (30 refs.)