Suicide among psychiatric in-patients in Stockholm, Sweden

The aim of this study was to analyse how sex, age, ethnicity and psychiatric disorders influence the suicide rate and to describe the methods used when committing suicide. The study was designed as a prospective follow-up study from 23 October 1984 to 31 December 1986. The study population was comprised of in-patients in psychiatric care from 23 October 1984 to 23 October 1985 living in the southern part of Stockholm, Sweden. Women had significantly higher standardised mortality ratios (SMR = 33.7, CI = 31.6-35.8) of suicide (determined and undetermined) than men (SMR = 21.4, CI = 19.7-23.1), and the SMR of total mortality were 4.0 and 3.8 respectively. The suicide rate was 15.5 per 1000 patients and 2.6 during the hospitalisation period. For men and women aged under 50, suicide accounted for 60% and 75% respectively of the total mortality. Men had a higher (p < 0.0001) hospitalisation rate than women, 1082 and 1004(per 100,000 and year) respectively. One-third of those who committed suicide died from an overdose and 35% were diagnosed as psychotic. Foreign-born individuals ran a twofold risk of committing suicide compared to Swedes. These findings are important and need to be further analysed in studies based on larger population samples.