Suicide in United States Army personnel, 1985-1986

A sixth biennium of epidemiological data on suicide in the U.S. Army was compiled. The annual crude suicide rate per 100,000 soldiers-at-risk for 1985-1986 was found to be 13.8, an increase of 3.8 points from 1983-1984. Sex-specific, race-specific, age-specific, grade-specific, and marital-status-specific rates were studied, and can be compared with the same indices in the previous six biennia. The standardized mortality ratio was calculated for 1986 and was found to be 69, significantly lower than the 100 expected from a civilian population of the same size and age-sex-race composition as the U.S. Army. Demographic data and information on circumstances surrounding the suicidal act were also made available for comparison with previous data. Analysis of the suicidal person's psychosocial situation (as reflected in the kinds of personal problems recorded in the reports and investigations of the incident and as reflected in assessment made of the victims presuicidal "motivational state") showed remarkable constancy in the five time periods studied, and indicates a powerful, consistent association between a dyadic love-object relationship in total collapse and the completed suicide.