[About epidemiology of suicidal behavior: an investigation in the health-service district of Brixen]

Neuropsychiatr. 2012;26(3):121-8. doi: 10.1007/s40211-012-0024-8. Epub 2012 Oct 2.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Objective: Aim of this investigation is to find out how many parasuicids as well as suicides are commited and which epidemiological characteristics (sex, age, substance addictions, relationships, job, life-events and suicide attempts in past) show people who commit suicide, and people who commiting parasuicide. After that we try to find variables predicting a suicide or variables what show a vulnerability to commit suicide.

Methods: Clinicans assess patients who commit parasuicide by the WHO-Parasuicide-Monitoring-Questionnaire and suicide victims by interview with the bereaved. Afterwards, data are assimilated and aggregated.

Results: In this period a mean of 37 (SD = 7.78) parasuicides and 6.32 (SD = 3.79) suicides happened yearly. The sample shows different characteristics in age, sex, life-events in the run-up to the action, job situation and parasuicide(s) in past. No differences were found between relationship and substance abuse/addiction and regarding both types of suicidal behavior.

Conclusion: The incidence concerning suicide is slightly lower; the incidence with regard to parasuicide is lower than in other samples. Demographic variables show that people commiting suicide differ from those who commit parasuicide.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Austria
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Suicide / psychology
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult