Anxiety symptoms preceding suicide: A Swedish nationwide record review.

BACKGROUND: The literature on the relationship between anxiety and suicidal behaviors is limited and findings are mixed. This study sought to determine whether physicians noted anxiety symptoms and suicidality in their patients in the weeks and months before suicide. METHODS: Data were derived from a nationwide medical record review of confirmed suicides in Sweden in 2015. Individuals with at least one documented physician consultation in any health care setting during 12 months before suicide (N = 956) were included. Clinical characteristics were compared between decedents with and without a notation of anxiety symptoms. Odds ratios were calculated to estimate associations between anxiety symptoms and suicidality in relation to suicide proximity. RESULTS: Anxiety symptoms were noted in half of individuals 1 week before suicide. Patients with anxiety were characterized by high rates of depressive symptoms, ongoing substance use issues, sleeping difficulties, and fatigue. After adjustment for mood disorders, the odds of having a notation of elevated suicide risk 1 week before death were doubled in persons with anxiety symptoms. Associations were similar across time periods (12 months - 1 week). Two-thirds had been prescribed antidepressants at time of death. LIMITATIONS: Data were based on physicians' notations which likely resulted in underreporting of anxiety depending on medical specialty. Records were not available for all decedents. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety symptoms were common in the final week before suicide and were accompanied by increases in documented elevated suicide risk. Our findings can inform psychiatrists, non-psychiatric specialists, and GPs who meet and assess persons with anxiety symptoms.

The state of psychiatry in Sweden.

The number of practising psychiatrists in Sweden has increased by nearly 30% between the years 1995-2009; however, the profession has suffered serious recruitment difficulties. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare estimated that about 5-10% of the population is in need of psychiatric treatment, but only 3-4% seek psychiatric care. Among patients who receive psychiatric care, approximately 47% are treated with psychopharmacology, 13% are treated with psychotherapy and 40% receive both treatments. There are still challenges facing Swedish psychiatry: reduction in waiting times for psychiatric care, broader accessibility of evidence-based treatment methods for all groups of psychiatric patients both in rural and urban areas, and targeting the needs of immigrants and refugees. The allocation of resources to psychiatric research, and development of novel treatment methods are crucially needed. The Swedish government is strongly committed to decreasing the number of suicides, as there are approximately 1,400 individuals lost to suicide every year in a country with a population of around 10 million. Given that nearly 20% of all suicides are amongst psychiatric inpatients, a regulation has been passed regarding the analysis of all completed suicides in the healthcare system. Results from these analyses can be used for increasing quality of treatment.

Psychosis and Suicide.

BACKGROUND: The life time risk of suicide among patients with long term psychosis is 5-15%. Suicide prevention in this group is a major clinical challenge. AIMS: To capture specific characteristics of suicidal communication and critical events preceding suicide in patients with psychosis. METHODS: Medical records were examined and a life event inventory applied to a one-year cohort of 21 cases of suicide in the clinical group in Stockholm county. RESULTS: In most cases direct or indirect verbal communication of suicidal thoughts were documented before the suicide. Three months preceeding death, 20 of the 21 subjects had described one or more negative critical experiences, typically physical illness, loss of contact with an important other, loss of "home", and intolerable side effects of medication. In most cases the suicide appeared to be the culmination of prolonged suffering and suicidal deliberations. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide prevention among patients with psychosis requires sensitivity, active listening, and responsiveness on the part of the care person to the patient's explicit suicidal communication and perceptions of care-related or other incidents or interactions, even when conveyed in an odd manner or with little emotion. To prevent suicide, attentive and long-term planning in collaboration with the patient is essential.