P-1414 - Suicide in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. a Case-control Study 2002–2008

Abstract

Introduction:

Suicide is strongly associated with mental disorders, especially depression. However, it has been found that a minority of individuals affected by depression receive adequate treatment. Co-morbidity with other psychiatric disorders, especially with self-harm, increases the risk of suicide.

Objectives:

To investigate the main risk factors of suicide and the use of antidepressant treatment in the Italian Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG).

Aims:

To determinate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and self-harm in suicides and population controls. To investigate the use of antidepressants among suicides. To determinate to which extent suicides had previous contacts with health care.

Methods:

Individual based data on self-harm, diagnoses and antidepressant prescriptions in FVG from 2002 to 2008 were obtained from the Regional Health Information System. All suicides occurred during the study period (N = 766) were included as cases. Each case was matched with regard to age and sex with 10 controls from the general population.

Results:

Previous self-harm and a psychiatric diagnosis increases the suicide risk by 124 and 31 fold respectively. Only 48% of cases with a previous diagnosis of unipolar depression received a prescription of antidepressants in the last 90 days prior to death. Among all suicides 20% had received an antidepressant prescription during the last 90 days. Twenty-two percent of the cases had never received any prescriptions or diagnosis.

Conclusions:

The main risk factors of suicide are self-harm and psychiatric illness. Depression appears undertreated among suicides. A substantial number of people who will kill themselves are unknown by health care.