Factors in Suicide Completions and Suicide Attempts Among Schizophrenic, Other Psychotic and Nonpsychotic Patients

This study explored several questions regarding suicide among psychiatric patients. Findings from 586 adolescent & young adult patients revealed that patients with schizophrenia attempted suicide less but subsequently died by suicide more often than patients with other psychoses & patients without psychosis. Female patients generally attempted suicide more than male patients. Those who attempted suicide were younger than nonattempters only in the group without psychosis. Those who died by suicide were generally more likely to have never married, had lower social competence, & greater drug abuse than either attempters or nonattempters. Attempters generally showed better premorbid functioning than did nonattempters or those who died by suicide.