P01-342 - Suicide in Musicians in the Last Forty Years: a Creative Mind Condition or a Psychopathologic Expression?

Abstract

Introduction

The frecuency on attempts or completed suicide between musicians is elevated. Diverse explanations have been adduced, not only the comorbid substance abuse and the high incidence of depression, but also the bohemian style of life and the effects of music and poetry of their songs on their psychological state.

Methodology

The biographies and artistic productions of 30 musicians who died by suicide since 1968 are reviewed, in order to analyze several aspects like suicide methods and the relation with demographic and psychopathologic variables.

Results

Suicide methods more used were the traumatic ones being the hanging the most frecuent, although if we analyze the sample according the gender there is predominance in overdose toxic method. About 85% had psychiatric antecedents or were in treatment when died. There is substance abuse in more of 50% of the cases like alcohol in the first place and others drugs. The 33% of the sample had an affective disorder. The average age of the consumption of the suicide was in youth (in their thirties).

Conclusions

The risk of dying by suicide in youth is elevated in the musicians. Even though there are an amount of studies, there are any definitely data that had confirmed the link between creative or artistic process and mental illness or suicide.

Suicide is always the result of psychopathology, even though there could be a few exceptions.

Substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidity are associated factors with the suicide risk in this group, in special alcohol and affective disorders respectively.