Citation

Wang XL, Li S, Fang YQ. Hong Kong J. Psychiatry 1998; 8(1): 9-12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Using the method of document metrology, the authors reviewed the literature published in the past decade on suicidal behaviour (suicide and parasuicide) including epidemiological data, clinical characteristics of suicide and social factors presumably contributing to suicidal behaviour. Between 1986 and 1996, 211 papers were published about suicide and parasuicide in Chinese journals, 76 % of which were clinical observations, controlled studies or epidemiological surveys. Mortality of completed suicide varied according to the regions sampled; in rural areas it was 3.21 - 21.01/100,000 (median: 17.9) as compared to 2.78 - 9.43/100,000 (median: 6.60) in urban or suburban areas. The age at which suicidal behaviour occurred ranged from 7 to 95 years. Young adults (aged 20-29) had the highest rate of suicide while the elderly (over 60 years) had the lowest rate. More female than male attempted/committed suicide (m/f: 0.4 - 0.8/1.0); however, the prevalence of completed suicide showed no predominance with respect to sex. Well-educated people were more likely to attempt/commit suicide than poorly educated ones. Common causative factors of suicidal behaviour included interpersonal conflicts, the presence of psychiatric disorders and difficulties related to chronic somatic ailments. Poisoning, hanging and drowning were the three most common methods for committing suicide.

Language: en

Keywords

article; Causative factors; China; Chinese; Epidemiology; human; major clinical study; Parasuicide; risk assessment; risk factor; social aspect; suicide; Suicide; suicide attempt