Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relative contributions of psychosocial stress and psychiatric morbidity to suicide are a subject of debate.
AIMS: To determine major risk factors for suicide in rural south India.
METHOD: We used a matched case-control design and psychological autopsy to assess 100 consecutive suicides and 100 living controls matched for age, gender and neighbourhood.
RESULTS: Thirty-seven (37%) of those who died by suicide had a DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis. Alcohol dependence (16%) and adjustment disorders (15%) were the most common categories. The prevalence rates for schizophrenia, major depressive episode and dysthymia were 2% each. Ongoing stress and chronic pain heightened the risk of suicide. Living alone and a break in a steady relationship within the past year were also significantly associated with suicide.
CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial stress and social isolation, rather than psychiatric morbidity, are risk factors for suicide in rural south India.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-30 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science |
| Volume | 196 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2010 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Alcoholism
- Case-Control Studies
- Chronic Disease
- Female
- Humans
- India
- Male
- Mental Disorders
- Middle Aged
- Pain
- Risk Factors
- Rural Health
- Social Isolation
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Stress, Psychological
- Suicide
- Young Adult
