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Lifetime risk of suicide for affective disorder, alcoholism and schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Hazel Inskip ,
Clare Harris  and
Brian Barraclough
Hazel Inskip
Affiliation:
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton
Clare Harris
Affiliation:
Mental Health Group, University of Southampton, Southampton
Brian Barraclough*
Affiliation:
Mental Health Group, University of Southampton, Southampton
*
B. M. Barraclough, Mental Health Group, Royal South Hants Hospital, Brintons Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YG
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Abstract

Background

The lifetime risks of suicide are generally quoted as 15% for affective disorder and alcoholism and 10% for schizophrenia, based on data from 1921–1975 and on calculations performed before computerised modelling techniques became available. This study recalculates the risk using contemporary data and modern techniques.

Method

Twenty-seven mortality studies provided data for affective disorder, 27 for alcohol dependence and 29 for schizophrenia. The proportion of the cohort who had died was plotted against the proportion of deaths from suicide. Modelling techniques fitted curves through the data points extrapolating them to cohort extinction, thus estimating the lifetime risk of suicide for each disorder.

Results

The lifetime risk was estimated at 6% for affective disorder, 7% for alcohol dependence and 4% for schizophrenia.

Conclusions

The lifetime suicide risk figures often quoted in the literature appear to be too high.

Information

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 172 , Issue 1 , January 1998 , pp. 35 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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