A case-control study of tattoos in young suicide victims as a possible marker of risk

Background: The goal was to examine tattooing in suicides, as tattoos have been associated with several risk factors for suicide. Method: A chart revi ew of a three-year sample of 134 consecutive suicides in Mobile County, Ala bama, was conducted. The prevalence of tattoos was compared between young ( < 30) white suicides and accidental deaths matched for age, gender and rac e, in a case-control study. Results: Tattoos were found in 21% of suicides. Fifty-seven percent of young white suicides were tattooed compared to 29% of matched accidental deaths. Limitations: Findings are preliminary due to the small sample size. The study methodology precluded obtaining informatio n of psychiatric diagnoses prior to death. Conclusions: Tattoos may be poss ible markers for lethality from both suicide and accidental death in young people, presumably because of shared risk factors such as substance abuse a nd personality disorder. Affective disorders should receive further, more s pecific studies. The clinical value of inquiring about tattoos in young peo ple at risk of suicide needs further study. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.