Psychiatric characteristics of 100 nonviolent suicide attempters in Hungary

Background: Previous international and Hungarian studies have shown that around 90% of persons making suicide attempts had at least one current mental disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the current prevalence of DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric diagnoses among nonviolent suicide attempters in Budapest, Hungary. Methods: Using a structured interview (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) determining DSM-IV Axis I diagnoses, the authors examined 100 consecutively contacted nonviolent suicide attempters (68 females and 32 males), aged between 14 and 66 (mean: 36.3 years). Results: A total of 64% of the subjects were repeated attempters, and the most common method was drug overdose (96%), in 21% of cases in combination with alcohol ingestion. A total of 92% of the attempters had at least one current DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric diagnosis. In 87% it was depressive disorder (59% unipolar major depression, 14% bipolar II depression and 12% bipolar I depression, 2% dysthymic disorder), in 46% anxiety disorders, in 27% substance-use disorder and in 2% psychotic disorder. Sixty percent of the attempters received two or more current Axis I diagnoses (35% depressive + anxiety disorder only, 15% depressive + substance-related disorder only, and 10% depressive + anxiety + substance-related disorder). Limitations: Nonviolent suicide attempters are not representative of all persons with attempted suicide and subthreshold Axis I diagnoses were not investigated. Conclusion: This study supports previous international and Hungarian findings on the high prevalence and comorbidity of Axis I mental disorders among persons with recent nonviolent suicide attempt.