A prospective study of suicides among the mentally ill in a specialist practice

This is the only prospective study of suicides in Singapore. Out of a total of 1,873 patients registered and treated in a private psychiatric practice from years 1968-1976, 25 patients were found to have committed suicide. Of these, 14 were found to suffer from schizophrenia and 11 from depressive illness. The suicide risk of all the patients under different categories were noted and when possible calculated. It is found that a schizophrenic patient who has attempted suicide carries the highest suicide risk.