Suicide attempts in a Danish region

Conducted a retrospective study of 114 male (mean age 31.2 yrs) and 94 female (mean age 37.2 yrs) suicide attempters responsible for 230 suicide attempts in Odense, Denmark, and admitted to a psychiatric department in the period 1 October 1980 through 20 April 1981. The number of admissions following attempted suicide in the period 1976–1981 increased by 47% to 201/100,000 inhabitants. Distribution by sex was equal. The highest rates found, both for men and women, were those for the age groups 30–40 yrs; 80% had taken an overdose of medicine and only 20% were deeply unconscious. Only 10% were psychotic. More than half had previously been admitted to psychiatric departments for another reason and about the same number had previously attempted suicide. After 20–26 mo, 5.8% had committed suicide. Denmark has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, but the rate for admitted attempters does not appear to be correspondingly high. In an international context, the following factors were considered to be noteworthy: increasing rates, equal distribution by sex, the peak rates for women being between the ages of 30 and 40 yrs, many previous attempts, and many subsequent suicides.