SUICIDE AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG-ADULTS, 15 THROUGH 24 YEARS OF AGE - A REPORT OF 392 CASES FROM PARIS, 1989-1996

The aims of our study were (1) to examine the sociodemographic, clinic al characteristics, autopsy and toxicological findings in 392 youth su icides in Paris, between 1989 through 1996, and (2) to analyze the psy chodynamic determinants leading up to the onset of the suicide. During the eight-year study period 392 suicides involving young people were investigated at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Paris. Two hundr ed and sixty victims (66%) were males. The mean age was 22 years in bo th sexes. Fifteen percent of the victims were below 20 pears. Ninety-t wo percent of the subjects were single. Forty percent of the victims w ere students, 35% were unemployed. One third of the victims had previo usly attempted suicide. Thirty-five percent of the subjects used to ta ke psychoactive prescription drugs and some of them had been under the care of a mental health professional at the time of the suicide. In 4 0% of the cases a suicide note was found near the body. Depression (70 % of victims), schizophrenia, (10%), affective disorders, parent-child relational problems, partner relational problems. adolescent antisoci al behavior, and borderline personality were found to be the most freq uent diseases and stressors involved in the suicides. The suicide was rarely an accidental reaction to stress. It was constantly preceded by situational distress, which led to suicidal ideas if the adolescent f ailed to cope with problems. Ten percent were known as heroin users. I n more than 40% of the cases, the victim's parents were divorced or se parated. The most frequent method of suicide was poisoning followed by jumping from a height, gunshot, subway death, and hanging/asphyxia. A mong firearms, a handgun was more likely to be used than rifles (85/15 %). Tranquilizers were the most frequent psychoactive drugs used for s uicide followed by antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, and barbitura tes (10%).