Suicide remains the most severe emergency in every psychiatric disorder.

After evaluating the frequency of suicide among patients followed from 1-1-2004 to 31-12-2005 by the Mental Health Service of Modena Centro, we statistically analyzed socio-demographic and clinical data of suicide patients (n=25).

Among psychiatric population followed by our psychiatric service in the observation period, suicide occurred in the 0.15% of all patients (25/16392) and represented the third cause of death, after cardiovascular disorders and neoplasia. The median age of suicide patients was 42 years for male and 50 years for women, with a ratio male/female of 1.8:1. “Depressive Disorders” followed by “Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders” represented the prevalent psychiatric diagnosis with a statistically significant correlation to suicide death cause (p< 0.005; Chi square test). The suicide patients had being treated for more than one year by psychiatric service (685 days, median) and 10 % of them was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward during the observation period. Suicide occurred after 73 days (median) from last psychiatric discharge and 12 days (median) from last psychiatric consultation.

Our data confirmed the literature: suicide is more frequent in young male affected by Depressive Disorders or Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders1. We have to conclude pessimistically about our preventive capacity since suicide occurred in patients already hospitalized and treated for a long period and after a short period from the last psychiatric intervention.