[Family anamnestic study of 89 suicides following release from inpatient psychiatric treatment]

This study was prompted by other large, family-history oriented studies which showed that there is no correlation between frequencies of suicide and psychosis. A multidimensional, neuro-psychiatric diagnosis program was performed on 89 cases of suicide after hospital discharge . (The time-span of the study was between June 1, 1969 and August 31, 1980.) Primarily, however, this study was oriented on family history, particularly concerning suicides and endogenous psychosis. In 69.7% of the cases a suicide-positive family history was established. In 56.2% of the suicide cases (N = 89) the simultaneous appearance of endogenous psychosis and suicide is undoubtedly significant (chi 2 = 22.94; df = 4; p less than 0.01). These findings, unique in the literature, are explained by the extraordinary good source of information in an epidemiologically clearly defined region (Bundesland Salzburg). The scant data material in many typical suicide studies concerning familial history of suicides can be explained by the lack of primary information. It is likely that studies which examine suicides in the total population would also find, by employing suitable methods, a high percentage of suicide-positive family histories. From this it is concluded that the role of genetic factors in suicides is in need of revision.