Abstract
Methods
Examination of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 10,742), originally based on antenatal questionnaire data and now followed up from mid-pregnancy to age 39, to ascertain
psychiatric disorders in the parents and offspring and suicides or attempted suicides in the offspring using nationwide registers.
psychiatric disorders in the parents and offspring and suicides or attempted suicides in the offspring using nationwide registers.
Results
A total of 121 suicide attempts (57 males) and 69 suicides (56 males) had occurred. Previously unstudied antenatal factors
(maternal depressed mood and smoking, unwanted pregnancy) were not related to these after adjustment. Psychiatric disorders
in the parents and offspring were the risk factors in both genders. When adjusted for these, the statistically significant
risk factors among males were a single-parent family for suicide attempts (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.62–8.50) and grand multiparity
for suicides (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.15–6.18). When a psychiatric disorder in females was included among possible risk factors
for suicide attempts, it alone remained significant (OR 15.55, 8.78–27.53).
(maternal depressed mood and smoking, unwanted pregnancy) were not related to these after adjustment. Psychiatric disorders
in the parents and offspring were the risk factors in both genders. When adjusted for these, the statistically significant
risk factors among males were a single-parent family for suicide attempts (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.62–8.50) and grand multiparity
for suicides (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.15–6.18). When a psychiatric disorder in females was included among possible risk factors
for suicide attempts, it alone remained significant (OR 15.55, 8.78–27.53).
Conclusions
A single-parent family was a risk factor for attempted suicides and grand multiparity for suicides in male offspring even
after adjusting for other ante- and perinatal circumstances and mental disorders in the parents and offspring. Mothers’ antenatal
depressed mood and smoking and unwanted pregnancy did not increase the risk of suicide, which is a novel finding.
after adjusting for other ante- and perinatal circumstances and mental disorders in the parents and offspring. Mothers’ antenatal
depressed mood and smoking and unwanted pregnancy did not increase the risk of suicide, which is a novel finding.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0479-8
- Authors
- Antti Alaräisänen, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Jouko Miettunen, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Anneli Pouta, National Public Health Institute, Oulu, Finland
- Matti Isohanni, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Pirkko Räsänen, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Pirjo Mäki, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954