Predictors of suicide in a community-based cohort of individuals with severe mental disorder

Abstract

Background: Rate of suicide is probably an indicator of the quality of mental health services within an area. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of suicide in a large community-based cohort of persons with long-term mental disorder.

Methods: A survey was conducted in Stockholm County, Sweden, in 1997 to identify adults with long-term disabling mental disorder (mental retardation and dementia excluded). The survey included an inventory of unmet needs as perceived by the service providers. The 12,247 cases were linked to the national in-patient register and the cause-of-death register. Predictors of suicide in 1997-2000 were determined by bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression.

Results: Predictors of suicide included a history of in-patient psychiatric care, previous suicide attempt, substance abuse and unmet need of a contact person. Personality disorder, especially borderline personality disorder, was the strongest diagnostic predictor of suicide among those with a history of in-patient psychiatric care.

Conclusion: Unmet needs may signal increased suicide risk in persons with severe mental disorder. Methods to improve suicide prevention in persons with personality disorder should be further developed. Interventions to reduce suicide in persons with a long-term mental disorder will require collaboration between psychiatric and social services.