[Epidemiology of suicide in Upper Austria]

In the years 1977-1980 1242 people committed suicide in Upper Austria. This affects 3 times more men than women. Distribution of age shows a slightly increasing tendency at higher age. More than 50% of the cases are committing suicide by hanging or strangulation. There are no clear seasonal assignments to be seen, though in February and August there are definitely less suicide cases than at other times, and in spring a slight increase can be stated. Of the 1242 patients 259 had already once been in stationary care of a psychiatric hospital. The majority of this group had left hospital more than one year before. Only with 7.7% suicide was committed within one week after leaving hospital. The distribution of diagnoses of previously hospitalized suicide patients shows a majority of neuroses and abnormal personalities, whereas endogenous psychoses have been diagnosed in about one third of the patients. It may be assumed that psychosis alone cannot be regarded as cause for committing suicide. An evaluation of suicidal tendency should principally be carried through at dismissal.