@article{ref1,
title="The validity of proxy-based data in suicide research: a study of patients 50 years of age and older who attempted suicide. I. Psychiatric diagnoses",
journal="Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica",
year="2001",
author="Conner, K. R. and Duberstein, P. R. and Conwell, Y.",
volume="104",
number="3",
pages="204-209",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To investigate the validity of best-estimate methodology for making psychiatric diagnoses among individuals who attempted suicide. METHOD: Subjects were 80 patients admitted for treatment following a suicide attempt. Psychiatric diagnoses based on structured interviews with subjects were compared with diagnoses made based on interviews with proxy respondents. In both cases, interview information was supplemented with pre-admission psychiatric and medical records to inform diagnoses. RESULTS: Diagnostic agreement, based on kappa coefficients, was substantial for major depression and bipolar disorders, and moderate for non-affective psychoses, organic mood and anxiety disorders. Agreement was substantial for substance dependence but poor for substance abuse disorders. CONCLUSION: Results support best-estimate methodology for making mood and substance dependence diagnoses in research of suicidal behavior in this age group, with potential implications for interpreting postmortem research of completed suicide.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0001-690X",
doi="10.1034/j.1600-0447.2001.00405.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0447.2001.00405.x"
}