Korean J Schizophr Res.  2015 Apr;18(1):5-9. 10.16946/kjsr.2015.18.1.5.

Suicide in Patients with Schizophrenia : A Review on the Findings of Recent Studies

• Lee H
• Lee K
• Koo JW
• Park SC

• KMID: 2288311
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2015.18.1.5

Abstract

The suicide risk of patients with schizophrenia is about 8.5-fold greater than that of the general population. Since 4-13% of patients with schizophrenia commit suicide, and 25-50% attempt suicide at least once during their lifetime, suicide can be a main cause of their higher mortality rate as compared with that of the general population. While evidence suggests that previous depressive disorders, previous suicide attempts, drug misuse, agitation or motor restlessness, fear of mental disintegration, poor adherence to treatment, and recent loss of another person are associated with the increased risk of suicide in schizophrenia, hallucinations have been associated with decreased suicide risk. Despite there being at least modest evidence suggesting that antipsychotics protect against suicidal risk, clozapine has been shown to be the most favorable second-generation antipsychotic for preventing suicide in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, selective serotonin receptor inhibitors can ameliorate suicidal ideation in schizophrenia. Furthermore, individual psychosocial interventions and psychotherapy, and reducing stigma, can be integral strategies for the prevention of suicide in schizophrenia. Further study is needed to identify the epidemiological characteristics and clinical correlates of suicide in Korean patients with schizophrenia, and provide an effective strategy for its prevention in Korea.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Suicide; Clozapine; Prevention

MeSH Terms

Antipsychotic Agents
Clozapine
Depressive Disorder
Dihydroergotamine
Hallucinations
Humans
Korea
Mortality
Psychomotor Agitation
Psychotherapy
Schizophrenia*
Serotonin
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide*
Antipsychotic Agents
Clozapine
Dihydroergotamine
Serotonin

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