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Published on: June 21, 2019
Epilepsy and risk of suicide: a population-based case-control study
Jakob Christensen1, Mogens Vestergaard, Preben Bo Mortensen
1Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. jakob@farm.au.dk
The Lancet. Neurology
|July 6, 2007
Summary
Individuals with epilepsy face a significantly higher suicide risk, even when accounting for psychiatric and socioeconomic factors. Newly diagnosed epilepsy patients are a particularly vulnerable group needing increased attention.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Epilepsy is associated with an elevated risk of suicide.
- This association may be influenced by psychiatric, demographic, and socioeconomic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between epilepsy and suicide risk.
- To determine if psychiatric, demographic, and socioeconomic factors modify this risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Danish Cause of Death Register data from 1981-1997.
- Matched suicide cases (n=21,169) with up to 20 controls (n=423,128) by sex, birth year, and calendar date.
Main Results:
- Individuals with epilepsy had a threefold higher suicide risk (RR 3.17).
- The risk remained elevated after adjusting for psychiatric disease and socioeconomic factors (RR 1.99).
- Patients with epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric disease showed the highest risk (RR 13.7), especially within six months of diagnosis (RR 5.35).
Conclusions:
- Epilepsy independently increases suicide risk, regardless of psychiatric or socioeconomic status.
- Individuals with newly diagnosed epilepsy represent a high-risk group requiring targeted support and attention.
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