Prevalence and predictors of parasuicide in chronic psychosis

Objective: This study estimates the prevalence of and risk factors fbr para suicide in a large community-based sample of patients with chronic psychosi s. Method: A total of 704 subjects with chronic psychosis were interviewed usi ng a battery of instruments. The 2-year prevalence of]parasuicide was estim ated and a comparison was made between attempters and non-attempters on a w ide range of sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results: The 2-year prevalence of parasuicide was 18.8%. Attempters were si gnificantly more likely to be younger, of white ethnic origin, to have a di agnosis of affective disorder, to be currently depressed, to have experienc ed more auditory hallucinations and to have: received treatment with antips ychotic drugs for a longer period. Conclusion: Parasuicide was found to present a considerable clinical proble m in this group. Continual risk assessment is essential to reduce this unac ceptably high rate.