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Suicide Among Chinese Schizophrenics in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

K. K. Cheng ,
C. M. Leung ,
W. H. Lo  and
T. H. Lam
K. K. Cheng*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
C. M. Leung
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
W. H. Lo
Affiliation:
Mental Health Service, 9B Bonham Road, Hong Kong
T. H. Lam
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

A descriptive study of suicides in 74 Chinese schizophrenic out-patients (43 male) is presented. The mean age at death was 31.3 years. The mean duration of illness was 8.5 years and 50 of the 74 died within ten years of onset of illness. Only five lived alone; 35 were openly employed and 20 were married at the time of death. Twenty had a history of depression, and 27 had attempted suicide previously. More females had been depressed or had attempted suicide than males. Over half were last admitted for reasons other than schizophrenic symptoms alone and ten died within one month of discharge. Eight of 71 patients followed up expressed suicidal ideas at the last psychiatric contact, but only 15 were symptomatic. Jumping was the commonest method used. Analytical studies are needed to identify risk factors in Chinese schizophrenics.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 154 , Issue 2 , February 1989 , pp. 243 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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