[Impact of natural lithium ressources on suicide mortality in Chile 2000-2009: a geographical analysis]. / Einfluss von natürlichen Lithiumsalzvorkommen auf die Suizidmortalität in Chile 2000­2009: Eine geographische Analyse.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence for the hypothesis that lithium salts at naturally occurring levels in drinking water may have a moderating effect on suicide rates of the exposed population. The aim of this study was to examine whether the lithium rich Atacama region in Chile is associated with lower suicide mortality in comparison to other regions. METHODS: Suicide data was acquired from the Chilean Ministry of Health. Socio-economic variables (rate of unemployment, urbanity, median household income, percentage of indeginous population) were obtained for all regions of Chile from the national statistical institute. We calculated annual suicide rates per 100,000 for each group for the years 2000-2009 and tested the hypothesis that suicide rates are lower in lithium rich regions in comparison to other regions of Chile. RESULTS: The lithium rich Atacama Desert shows a significantly lower suicide rate (9.99 per 100,000) in comparison to other parts of Chile (12.50 per 100,000) (t = 4.75, df = 18, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Chilean regions rich in naturally occurring lithium salts show lower suicide mortality rates in comparison to other regions. Although causality cannot be proven by this design, these findings add to previous findings and warrant further research on the effects of naturally occurring low-dose lithium on health.

Epidemiology of suicide in Austria during 2000-2010: potential years of life lost: time for the national suicide prevention program.

BACKGROUND: This article investigates suicide rates from 2000 to 2010 in Austria, a country with now average rates that had started to decline in the mid-80s. RESULTS: Rates declined in the observed period, to an average of 26.1 per 100,000 persons for men, 8.2 for women, and 16.9 in the general population. The decrease was found in all age-groups, but more marked in women, with a reduction by 26.3 % compared with the previous decade than in men (20.0 % reduction). Hanging still is the most common method, 49.1 % for men and 35.0 % for women, although also on the decline. Furthermore, person years of lost life were calculated, also reflecting a decrease from 40,702 years in 2000 to 29,883 in 2010. Altogether, 372,551 years of life were lost by suicide in Austria in the period 2000-2010, 277,998 years among men and 94,553 years among women. CONCLUSIONS: Concerning the still observed increase in old age-groups and the huge amount of lost life years, it is argued that implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Programme for Austria is strongly needed.

Personality organization in borderline patients with a history of suicide attempts.

Suicide attempts (SA) are common in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Recent studies focus on aspects of personality associated with risk for SA such as deficits in affect regulation including impulse control and aggression. The current study examines associations of dysfunctional personality organization, psychiatric comorbidities as well as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) with SA in a sample of 68 BPD outpatients. Patients with a history of SA yielded higher scores in personality domains of aggression, especially self-directed aggression. Further, a history of SA was associated with a worse general level of personality organization and a higher prevalence rate of NSSI and substance abuse disorder. The results demonstrate that SA in BPD patients might be regarded as a manifestation of impaired personality functioning rather than mere state variables and symptoms. Moreover, these findings might have implications for indication, treatment, and prognosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.