Gender differences in completed suicides in Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract Background Psychological autopsy studies have been widely used to identify the cause of suicide. However, gender is one of the most frequently replicated predictors for suicide. To identify further the significant risk factors for suicide among males and females separately. Method Data were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of affective disorders 2013-03, Vol.145 (3), p.394-399
Main Authors: TAKTAK, Safak, UZUN, Ibrahim, BALCIOGLU, Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Completed suicides
Female
Gender
Gender differences
Humans
Istanbul
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mood disorders
Parasuicide
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Socioeconomic Factors
Substance abuse
Suicide
Suicide - statistics & numerical data
Teams
Turkey
Turkey - epidemiology
Victims
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background Psychological autopsy studies have been widely used to identify the cause of suicide. However, gender is one of the most frequently replicated predictors for suicide. To identify further the significant risk factors for suicide among males and females separately. Method Data were obtained from The Turkish-Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute Morgue Department for all suicides deaths from April to August 2002 in Istanbul. 124 completed suicides were included in the study. Results This study findings suggest that unemployed, not married or in a de facto relationship, previous suicide attempt, and alcohol or substance abuse were common amongst those who died by suicide. Most of the victims were male; the most frequent suicide methods were hanging and jumping down a high building followed by firearms. Both males and females were most frequently affected by psychiatric disorders. It was found that 108 cases that did not receive psychiatric care attempted suicide for the first time and committed suicide. Conclusion This finding suggests that suicides should be investigated by an expert team and not by the police and victims' relatives only to determine whether they are really suicides or not.
ISSN:0165-0327
1573-2517
DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2012.05.055