schizophrenia is one of the mental illnesses with the highest risk of suicide, with very high rates of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. However data regarding suicide attempts by schizophrenia patients is scarce. In this study a large sample of schizophrenia patients who had attempted suicide was characterized.

a fifteen year retrospective analysis of all records of adult patients suffering from schizophrenia admitted to our center was conducted. The index group (N=1094) was comprised of patients who had attempted suicide; the comparison group (N=1094) was comprised of the next admission of a patient suffering from schizophrenia who did not attempt suicide prior to hospitalization.

the index group consisted of 380 women and 714 men, with a mean age of 39.6 + 12.9 years. The comparison group consisted of 302 women and 792 men, with a mean age of 42.9 + 13.7 years. Four variables were identified as significantly differentiating between groups: Patients who had attempted suicide were younger (39.6 vs 42.9 years; p = 0.00), had a higher percentage of females (34.7% vs 27.6%; p = 0.00), with increased rates of co-morbid physical illness (27.5% vs 20.4%; p = 0.00) and with a higher rate of substance abuse (32.1% vs 12.4%; p = 0.00).

this study brings attention to some significant factors associated with attempted suicide amongst schizophrenia patients, especially physical co-morbidity and substance abuse. In order to decrease adverse outcomes in this group of patients these variables should be addressed in risk assessment schemes.