Suicide rates in Hungary correlate negatively with reported rates of depression

Regional variations across Hungary in suicide rate and in rate of treated depression were examined. Regional differences in suicide rate as well as psychiatric morbidity were consistent over the 3 years examined (1985, 1986 and 1987). The suicide rate showed a significant negative correlation with the rate of treated depression in each of the 3 years, and weaker negative correlations with perinatal mortality and divorce rate. No correlation between suicide rate and rate of schizophrenia was found. The results suggest that underdiagnosis of depression may contribute to Hungary's very high suicide rate. The implications of this for medical education and psychiatric practice are discussed.