Suicide and schizophrenia in China

Abstract

There is no doubt that both schizophrenia and suicide prevention are prominent international public-health priorities. 1 De Hert M Peuskens J Psychiatric aspects of suicidal behaviour: schizophrenia. in: Hawton K van Heeringen K International handbook of suicide and attempted suicide. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester2000: 121-134 Crossref Scopus (37) Google Scholar , 2 Fenton WS McGlashan TH Victor BJ Blyler CR Symptoms, subtype, and suicidality in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 1997; 154: 199-204 Crossref PubMed Scopus (24) Google Scholar Unfortunately, the limited knowledge base poses a significant obstacle to the development of prevention programmes in many parts of the world. Given the large population and specific characteristics of suicide in the general population in China, 3 Phillips MR Li XY Zhang YP Suicide rates in China, 1995–99. Lancet. 2002; 359: 835-840 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (694) Google Scholar , 4 Phillips MR Yang GH Zhang YP Wang LJ Ji HY Zhou MG Risk factors for suicide in China: a national case-control psychological autopsy study. Lancet. 2002; 360: 1728-1736 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (641) Google Scholar studies of suicide in individuals with schizophrenia in China could provide important insight into risk and protective factors and shed light on the effect of cultural factors in China, which could have implications for other countries. Suicide and the unique prevalence pattern of schizophrenia in mainland China:a retrospective observational studyRisk factors for suicide vary in people with different mental disorders, so identification of illness-specific risk profiles would improve prediction of suicide and help tailor prevention efforts. The difference in suicide rates by sex and residential location in individuals with schizophrenia might be one of several contributing factors to the unique epidemiological pattern of schizophrenia in China. Full-Text PDF