Mental Disorders in Suicide and Undetermined Death in the Lundby Study. The Contribution of Severe Depression and Alcohol Dependence

The role of severe depression in suicide & undetermined deaths was evaluated. The Lundby Study is a prospective, longitudinal study of 3563 subjects. In a long-term follow-up, 1947-2006, there were 66 suicide cases including 19 undetermined deaths. Depression & alcoholism were, as expected, the major contributors to suicide. Severe depression with psychotic &/or melancholic features was diagnosed in 66% of all depressions & in 29% of all suicide cases, as compared to 15% for major depression only. Alcohol dependence was related to undetermined death. (38 refs.) JA