Suicide and Mental Disorder: Evidence of An Increased Risk of Suicide in Mental Disorder and the Risk Factors Associated with Suicide

Special Article

Psychiatry Investigation 2006;3(2):36-50.

Yoon-Young Nam, MD1;Chan-Hyung Kim, MD, PhD2,3; and Hong Shick Lee, MD, PhD2,3;

¹;Seoul National Hospital, ²;Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, ³;The Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

<p class="MsoPlainText" style="word-spacing: 1; line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font face="HY중고딕" size="2">Suicide is a significant public health problem in Korea. Previous studies have suggested that mental disorders constitute an important risk factor for suicidal behavior. Moreover, many socio-demographic and clinical features are reported to be associated with an increased risk for suicide in subjects with mental disorder. Yet, the mechanism behind the relationship and the direct effect of mental disorder on suicidal behavior remain unclear. This article reviews the evidence for there being an increased risk of suicide among people with mental disorder and the characteristics which are related to suicide from a bio-psycho-social perspective. Furthermore, this review presents a conceptual framework relating mental disorder to suicide.

</span></font>

Key words Suicide;Major depressive disorder;Schizophrenia;Alcohol use disorder;Anxiety disorder.