Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
A clinical study on suicide among schizophrenics
T Funahashi1, Y Ibuki, Y Domon
1Higashiowari National Hospital of Mental Disorders, Nagoya, Japan.
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|May 10, 2000
Summary
Suicide risk in schizophrenia persists throughout the illness. Key predictors include suicidal thoughts, anxiety levels, and being a middle child.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder associated with increased suicide risk.
- Understanding the specific factors contributing to suicide in schizophrenic patients is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of suicide in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.
- To highlight critical considerations for suicide prevention across all disease stages.
Main Methods:
- A clinical investigation involving 80 individuals who died by suicide and met DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia.
- A matched control group of 80 living individuals with schizophrenia and no history of suicide attempts.
- Logistic regression analysis to identify significant predictors of suicide.
Main Results:
- Suicidal ideation, anxiety levels (measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), and birth order emerged as significant predictors of suicide.
- Middle-born children with schizophrenia demonstrated a higher risk of suicide.
- Suicide risk is present across all stages of schizophrenia, influenced by subjective will to die and environmental changes like hospital admission/discharge.
Conclusions:
- Suicidal ideation, anxiety, and birth order are critical indicators for suicide risk in schizophrenia.
- Environmental changes and the subjective desire to die are significant factors.
- Continuous vigilance and targeted interventions are necessary for suicide prevention in schizophrenia patients at all disease stages.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...