[Space-time suicide clustering in the community of Antequera (Spain)]

Abstract

Introduction: Approximately 3,500 people commit suicide every year in Spain. The main aim of this study is to explore if a spatial and temporal clustering of suicide exists in the region of Antequera (Málaga, España).

Methods: Sample and procedure: All suicides from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008 were identified using data from the Forensic Pathology Department of the Institute of Legal Medicine, Málaga (España). Geolocalisation. Google Earth was used to calculate the coordinates for each suicide decedent's address. Statistical analysis. A spatiotemporal permutation scan statistic and the Ripley's K function were used to explore spatiotemporal clustering. Pearson's chi-squared was used to determine whether there were differences between suicides inside and outside the spatiotemporal clusters.

Results: A total of 120 individuals committed suicide within the region of Antequera, of which 96 (80%) were included in our analyses. Statistically significant evidence for 7 spatiotemporal suicide clusters emerged within critical limits for the 0-2.5 km distance and for the first and second semanas (P<.05 in both cases) after suicide. There was not a single subject diagnosed with a current psychotic disorder, among suicides within clusters, whereas outside clusters, 20% had this diagnosis (X2=4.13; df=1; P<.05).

Conclusions: There are spatiotemporal suicide clusters in the area surrounding Antequera. Patients diagnosed with current psychotic disorder are less likely to be influenced by the factors explaining suicide clustering.

Keywords: Agrupación (cluster) de enfermedad; Contagio; Contagion; Disease clustering; Suicide; Suicidio.