SUICIDE AND MENTAL-DISORDERS

In Japan, there has not yet been a complete psychological autopsy stud y. The author conducted a retrospective study of failed suicides (quas i-completed suicides) admitted to an emergency critical care center. A ccording to the lethality of suicide methods, 133 out of 265 subjects over 6 years (1986-1991) were classified as the absolutely dangerous ( AD; the failed suicides) group. As a principal diagnosis, psychoses, e ndogenous depression, substance abuse were present in 75% of the AD gr oup. The diagnostic distribution largely differed with depressive diso rders being mainly in the older group (50+years), and psychoses predom inating in the younger group (< 30 years). This study suggested that t he majority of suicide victims in Japan also had mental disorders, and suicide prevention should be confronted with this clinical fact.