ABSTRACT
Different types of studies have been published that examine the relation between suicidal behavior and mental disorders. This chapter focuses on three types: studies based on forensic examinations, follow-up studies, and follow-up studies of patients with specific mental disorders. Numerous studies have been made in patients who have attempted suicide with the purpose of identifying risk factors for a later suicide. One of the large studies was made by C. Allgulander and L. D. Fisher in 1990. They followed 8,895 patients admitted due to self-poisoning in Stockholm during the period 1974 to 1985 in order to identify risk factors for suicide. Further Scandinavian studies of suicide attempters found that chronic neurotic disorders, alcohol and medication abuse, depression, and schizophrenia were suicide risk factors in suicide attempters. Numerous follow-up studies in psychiatric populations on the association of psychiatric disorders and suicide have been made. In 1977, C. Miles reviewed approximately 100 of such studies, among which thirty-four dealt with schizophrenia.
