Depression and suicide

Abstract

It is widely known that during the depressive psychotic stages of depression, the risk of suicide is extremely high. In 17 of the follow-up studies reviewed, death and suicide data were presented. The data indicate that these affective disorders were associated with very high suicide rates. Suicide accounted for at least 12% of all deaths in every study. In nine studies suicide accounted for 12-19% of deaths, while in the other eight studies it accounted for 35-60%. The ratio of suicides to all deaths levelled off at about 15% as the deaths approached 100%.