Physical Illness, Functional Limitations, and Suicide Risk: a Population-Based Study

The independent association of physical illness & functional limitations with suicide mortality risk was assessed. The Cox proportional hazards model was used with data from the 1986-1994 National Health Interview Survey linked to the 1986-1997 National Death Index to analyze the effects of chronic physical illness & functional limitations on suicide. After controlling for potential confounders at baseline, functional limitations were shown to be a significant predictor of suicide. Psychiatric comorbidity also increased the risk of suicide. Chronic conditions alone were not predictive of suicide when functional limitation was added to the model. Implications for the clinical management of suicidal behaviour among patients with chronic conditions are discussed. (29 refs.)