Abstract
Methods
Using completely interlinked registers, we generated a nested case–control study from the cohort of all Danish people born
1965 and onwards. We identified 2,384 suicides aged 15–41 years during 1981–2006, and 56,016 age and sex-matched living controls.
We examined all criminal charges from 1980, and all psychiatric admissions from 1969 and outpatient episodes from 1995. Exposure
odds ratios were estimated using conditional logistic regression models.
1965 and onwards. We identified 2,384 suicides aged 15–41 years during 1981–2006, and 56,016 age and sex-matched living controls.
We examined all criminal charges from 1980, and all psychiatric admissions from 1969 and outpatient episodes from 1995. Exposure
odds ratios were estimated using conditional logistic regression models.
Results
A quarter of male and 17 % of female suicides had histories of both criminal justice system contact and secondary care psychiatric
treatment, with a marked elevation in risk seen compared with having neither risk factor: male odds ratio (OR) 34.0, 95 %
confidence interval (CI) 29.1–39.6; female OR 72.7, CI 49.4–107.1. Among those treated for psychiatric illness, contact with
the criminal justice system predicted higher risk: male OR 1.4, CI 1.1–1.7; female OR 1.7, CI 1.1–2.4, although these effects
were attenuated and became non-significant with adjustment for socio-demographic risk factors. In men, risk was especially
high if first criminal justice system contact occurred before first psychiatric treatment episode, and if these two challenging
life events coalesced within a year of each other.
treatment, with a marked elevation in risk seen compared with having neither risk factor: male odds ratio (OR) 34.0, 95 %
confidence interval (CI) 29.1–39.6; female OR 72.7, CI 49.4–107.1. Among those treated for psychiatric illness, contact with
the criminal justice system predicted higher risk: male OR 1.4, CI 1.1–1.7; female OR 1.7, CI 1.1–2.4, although these effects
were attenuated and became non-significant with adjustment for socio-demographic risk factors. In men, risk was especially
high if first criminal justice system contact occurred before first psychiatric treatment episode, and if these two challenging
life events coalesced within a year of each other.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0517-6
- Authors
- Roger T. Webb, Centre for Suicide Prevention, Centre for Mental Health and Risk, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
- Ping Qin, National Centre for Register-based Research, University of Aarhus, Taasingegade 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Hanne Stevens, National Centre for Register-based Research, University of Aarhus, Taasingegade 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Louis Appleby, Centre for Suicide Prevention, Centre for Mental Health and Risk, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
- Jenny Shaw, Centre for Suicide Prevention, Centre for Mental Health and Risk, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
- Preben Bo Mortensen, National Centre for Register-based Research, University of Aarhus, Taasingegade 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954