Citation

Qin P, Agerbo E, Westergård-Nielsen N, Eriksson T, Mortensen PB. Br. J. Psychiatry 2000; 177: 546-550.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatric Demography, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, University Hospital in Aarhus, Risskov, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11102320

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gender is one of the most frequently replicated predictors for suicide. AIMS: To identify risk factors for suicide among males and females and to investigate whether risk factors for suicide differ by gender. METHOD: A time-matched nested case-control design was performed using Danish longitudinal register databases to obtain 811 suicide cases and 79 871 controls. Data were analysed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A history of hospitalised mental illness was the most marked risk factor for suicide for both genders. Unemployment, retirement, being single and sickness absence were significant risk factors for men, whereas having a child <2 years old was significantly protective for women. The relative risks for suicide differed significantly between genders according to psychiatric admission status and being the parent of a child <2 years. However, adjustment for these factors did not eliminate the gender difference in suicide risk. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for suicide differed by gender and gender differences could not be explained by differential exposure to known risk factors.

Language: en