The Struggle to Prevent and Evaluate: Application of Population Attributable Risk and Preventive Fraction to Suicide Prevention Research

Population attributable risk estimates have been used in suicide research to evaluate the impact of psychosocial & socioeconomic risk factors, including affective disorders, traumatic life events, & unemployment. A parallel concept of preventive fraction, allowing for estimation of the impact of protective factors & effectiveness of preventive interventions, is practically unknown in suicidology. The authors discuss the application of both concepts to suicide research & prevention, & review literature on the subject. Despite several methodological & conceptual limitations, both are valuable instruments to inform development & evaluation of suicide prevention programs. (47 refs.)