Risk factors for suicide in young people suffering from schizophrenia: a long-term follow-up study

Ten per cent of patients with schizophrenia commit suicide, but assessment of risk is difficult. Large case-control studies with a long follow-up peri od are needed. These should focus on patients from one age group to give cl inicians the details required to identify those at highest risk. We present a case-control study of 63 patients who committed suicide and 63 controls from a consecutive admission series of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. All patients were under the age of 30 at admission. Risk factors for suicide were male gender, chronic illness with frequent re lapses (OR 6.0), frequent short hospitalisation, a negative attitude toward s treatment (OR non-compliance 7.0), impulsive behaviour (OR acting out 6.4 , OR involuntary commitment 17), parasuicide (OR suicide attempt 4.8, OR hi ghly lethal suicide attempt 11), high pre-morbid IQ (OR 4.3), psychosis (OR 7.0) and depression (OR 36). However, early onset of a defect state (OR 6. 3) and a daily activity (OR 4.2) were protective factors. Identified risk factors could help clinicians to target high-risk patients and form the basis for interventions aimed at reducing suicide. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.