Population-Attributable Risk of Suicide Conferred by Axis I Psychiatric Diagnoses in a Hong Kong Chinese Population

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the population-attributable risk (PAR) of completed suicide among Hong Kong Chinese with axis I psychiatric diagnoses. With a case-control psychological autopsy method, 150 suicide decedents aged 15-59 were compared for axis I psychiatric diagnoses and psychosocial variables with 150 randomly selected age- and gender-matched persons living in the community. In the presence of other, non-disease-related social risk factors (unemployment and unmanageable debt), past suicide attempt independently accounted for 44% of the PAR of suicide, followed by current major depressive disorder (27%), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (22%), and substance use disorder or pathological gambling (16%). Other diagnoses (such as anxiety and phobic disorders, dysthymia, adjustment disorders, and past major depressive episode) accounted for 24% of PAR. Psychiatric morbidity remains the major risk factor for suicide in Hong Kong despite well-developed psychiatric services. Mental health policy should be refined to target clinical groups at high risk of suicide.