[Risk profiles for suicide of schizophrenic and depressive inpatients - a psychological autopsy study].

Objective: This psychological autopsy study investigates suicide risk factors of schizophrenic and depressive inpatients.
Methods: 67 potential risk factors of inpatient suicide were identified by means of literature research and caregiver interviews of schizophrenic and depressive suicidents (1995-2004). The medical records of the suicidents (n = 20) were analysed in respect to the identified risk factors and compared to their respective control group of non-suicidents (n = 20) which was matched by diagnosis, gender, age, year / month of admission and ward. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.
Results: In comparison to their respective control group schizophrenic (n = 11) and depressive suicidents (n = 9) differed clearly by their risk profile. Suffering from side effects of medication was found to be a predictor of suicide for schizophrenic inpatients.
Conclusions: Psychological autopsy studies are indispensable for the construction of diagnosis-specific risk profiles. Reduction of side effects of medication seems to play a larger role in suicide prevention for schizophrenic inpatients than previously assumed.
(Copyright Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart . New York.)