Suicide in India: a systematic review.
1Institute of Psychiatry & Human Behaviour, Goa, India.
Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry
|August 6, 2014
Summary
Suicide is a significant public health issue in India, with rates potentially much higher than official figures suggest. Key risk factors include low socioeconomic status, mental illness, and interpersonal difficulties, particularly among young adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Suicide presents a major cause of mortality in India.
- Official suicide rate estimations from India's National Crime Records Bureau are considered unreliable.
- Existing data suggests a significant underestimation of the true suicide burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing body of literature on suicide in India.
- To identify and analyze factors associated with suicide within the Indian population.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Global Health, Google Scholar, and IndMED.
- Relevant study abstracts were independently screened for inclusion by two authors.
- Data from selected full-text articles were systematically extracted using a standardized format.
Main Results:
- Thirty-six studies met the inclusion criteria; however, heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis.
- Verbal autopsy studies in rural India indicate significantly higher suicide rates (82-95 per 100,000) than official national rates.
- Suicide predominantly affects individuals aged 20-29. Hanging and pesticide ingestion are common methods; self-immolation is notable among women.
- Low socioeconomic status, mental illness (notably alcohol misuse), and interpersonal issues are strongly linked to suicide.
Conclusions:
- Information quality on suicide in India is limited, yet it is a critical and escalating public health concern.
- Suicide in India disproportionately affects women, especially young women, compared to high-income countries.
- Pesticide ingestion is a more frequent method, and poverty a stronger correlate, while mental illness is a lesser correlate in Indian suicides compared to high-income nations.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Psychosurgery
2.5K
Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
2.5K
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
1.6K
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
1.6K
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
3.9K
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
3.9K
01:18Depression: Overview
1.1K
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
1.1K
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
966
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...
966
01:24Kaplan-Meier Approach
785
The Kaplan-Meier estimator is a non-parametric method used to estimate the survival function from time-to-event data. In medical research, it is frequently employed to measure the proportion of patients surviving for a certain period after treatment. This estimator is fundamental in analyzing time-to-event data, making it indispensable in clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and reliability engineering. By estimating survival probabilities, researchers can evaluate treatment effectiveness,...
785