Suicide in patients hospitalized for schizophrenia: 1913-1940

From a sample of 1357 schizophrenic patients hospitalized between 1913 and 1940 at the Phipps Clinic, we have follow-up data on 1212 (89%) cases, with a mean length of follow-up of 11 years. Of these 1212 patients, 28 (2%) ar e known to have committed suicide. Suicide was significantly correlated wit h 1) previous suicide attempts, 2) depressive symptoms, 3) preoccupation wi th suicide, 4) affective illness in close relatives, 5) poor premorbid soci al and work history, 6) sexual worries, and 7) psychomotor agitation. Marit al status, gender, age at onset age at admission, number of previous admiss ions, condition at discharge from Phipps, length of hospitalization, the pr esence of any type of delusions or hallucinations, alcohol problems, parano id or catatonic features, and utilization of shock therapies mere not signi ficantly correlated with subsequent suicide. The seven variables significan tly correlated with suicide enumerated above were chosen to construct a sca le suggesting which patients were at high risk for suicide.