A predictor model for suicide attempt: evidence from a population-based study

There is an extreme need for planning to prevent suicide in developing countries. It is necessary to detect the risk factors of this problem and plan to control them. The aim of this study was to determine a predictive model for suicide attempt based on its risk factors in order to give information for planning therapeutic, preventive, and educational interventions in Karaj City.

The setting was Karaj City, Tehran Province, Iran and the study design was cross-sectional. In this study, data were collected by using the World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire of SUPRE-MISS study. The questionnaire included questions about demographic characteristics, personal and family history of suicide behaviors, use of psychotropic drugs, physical and mental disorders, and community stress. All parts of the questionnaire were filled out by interview. A total of 2300 individuals participated in this study having considered the 1.2% prevalence of suicide attempt in the pilot study, and with type one error rate of 5%, the sample size was calculated as 2300.

About 65% of the participants were females. Most of the participants had high-school education (48%) and 57.2% of them were married. Housewives included most of the occupation categories (46%). The mean age of the suicide attempters and nonattempters was 26 (+/-9) and 32 (+/-13) years, respectively. This difference was statistically significant. Younger age, female sex, history of mental disorders, lifelong use of tobacco and alcohol, and unemployment were the independent predictors of suicide attempt.

Prevention of suicide is possible by understanding its risk factors and planning to control them.