SUICIDE IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES - A REVIEW

Suicide is associated with certain diagnoses. In addition to its assoc iation with depression, suicide is related to panic disorder, borderli ne personality disorder and schizophrenia, more so than other psycholo gical disorders. Therefore, full understanding of the individual, incl uding his or her psychiatric diagnosis, is important in dealing with s omeone who is suicidal. Suicide is associated with certain traumas. Th e trauma of physical and sexual abuse as a child increases risk both i n childhood and in adulthood. In studying the connection between diffe rent types of abuse and suicide, prospective research is needed that u ses clear definitions and distinguishes between physical, sexual, and combined abuse. Also, the trauma of contracting AIDS may heighten suic ide risk, particularly near the time of HN testing or if dementia or d rug treatment clouds consciousness. At these times clinicians should t ake special care to assess for suicidality. Suicide is associated with certain groups more than others. Adolescents, the elderly and certain ethnic groups, such as Caucasians, have higher rates than others. Pre vention strategies that acknowledge the uniqueness of the individual a nd take place at home, in school, and in the community have become ext remely important. Suicide may be contagious. Contagion is more likely if the model is a celebrity, if the publicity is extensive, and if peo ple are asked about others rather than themselves. Suicide is so compl ex that current knowledge, though enabling us to predict which special populations and circumstances increase risk, is not sufficient to pre dict the specific individuals who will attempt or succeed in killing t hemselves. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.