Attempted suicide: repetition and survival - findings of a follow-up study

Objective: This was a prospective follow-up study of suicidal patients to a ssess the influence over time of different risk factors, whether on complet ed suicides or reattempts. Survival analysis makes it possible to weigh the influence of variables that increase or decrease a patient's life span or that make reattempts less likely. Method: A cohort of 150 patients admitted to a psychiatric department after a suicide attempt was followed up over 10 years. The study protocol used s tandardized criteria, and periodic controls were carried out in all patient s. Results: In total, 12% of patients completed suicide, 10% died from natural causes, 75% were still alive and 25% reattempted. In the survival analysis the risk for completed suicide or reattempting was highest during the firs t 2 years after the index attempt admission. Global Assessment of Functioni ng (GAF) was the factor that most increased survival time. The number of pr evious attempts decreased survival time and increased the risk of reattempt s. Conclusion: Since suicidal risk varied over time, intensifying contact with patients during periods of psychopathological change or life events could prolong their survival.