LOWER RISK OF SUICIDE DURING PREGNANCY

Objective: The authors determined the risk of suicide during pregnancy . Method: The autopsy reports of all female residents of New York City , 10-44 years old, who committed suicide from 1990 to 1993 were assess ed for pregnancy. These data were compared with age-adjusted and race- adjusted standardized mortality ratios for women, which were calculate d by using population data from the 1990 U.S. Census as well as data o btained from the New York City Health Department on the number of live births, spontaneous abortions, and induced abortions. Results: The st andardized mortality ratio for suicide during pregnancy was 0.33; that is, the number of suicides of pregnant women was only one-third of th at expected. Conclusions: Despite the mood swings and stress associate d with pregnancy and impending childbirth, pregnant women have a signi ficantly lower risk of suicide than women of childbearing age who are not pregnant.