COMMITTED SUICIDE IN A TOTAL SCHIZOPHRENIC COHORT - IN SEARCH OF THE SUICIDAL PROCESS

In an epidemiologic case-finding study of 341 persons diagnosed as hav ing ''long-term functional psychosis'', 7 persons with schizophrenia h ad committed suicide during a followup period of 3 years. Data about t he seven cases were retrospectively gathered through studies of medica l case records and through interviews with significant others and care personnel/psychotherapists. All seven persons had been chronically il l. Most of them were in a state of remission from their illness before the suicide and even showed signs of lasting improvement. The individ uals had premorbidly been functioning rather well, with normal ambitio ns. Late in their illness they expressed a sense of loss of a former s elf and feelings of being hopelessly handicapped and separated from wh at they considered to be normal life. All seven persons had also exper ienced negative life events shortly before the suicide. The time persp ective of having lived with a chronic mental illness for many years se ems to have been of major importance in the development of most of the individual suicidal processes.