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Suicidal Ideation, Psychiatric Disorder, and Medical Illness in a Community Epidemiological Study
Author(s) -
GiliPlanas M.,
RocaBennasar M.,
FerrerPerez V.,
BernardoArroyo M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.31.2.207.21508
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , epidemiology , psychiatry , neuropsychiatry , population , general health questionnaire , medicine , suicide prevention , poison control , mental health , clinical psychology , psychology , medical emergency , environmental health
Many epidemiological studies have analyzed suicidal ideation in clinical samples, but only a few have been performed in the general population. We present the results of a two‐stage epidemiological study in the general population on the island of Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain), which used the 28‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28) in the first stage ( n = 697) and the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) in the second ( n = 242). We also recorded medical illnesses diagnosed in the subjects at the second stage. Four items on the GHQ‐28 ask directly about suicidal thoughts or ideation. From the sample, 6.5% have reported suicidal ideation. Mental disorders are the most important factor associated with suicidal ideation; medical illnesses seem to play a secondary role.