Suicides by persons reported as missing prior to death: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

A first study to compare suicides by missing persons with other suicide cases.

Design

Retrospective cohort study for the period 1994-2007. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: Queensland, Australia.

Population

194 suicides by missing persons and 7545 other suicides were identified through the Queensland Suicide Register and the National Coroners Information System.

Main outcome measure

χ(2) statistics and binary logistic regression were used to identify distinct characteristics of suicides by missing persons.

Results

Compared with other suicide cases, missing persons significantly more often died by motor vehicle exhaust gas toxicity (23.7% vs 16.4%; χ(2)=7.32, p<0.01), jumping from height (6.7% vs 3.2%; χ(2)=7.08, p<0.01) or drowning (8.2% vs 1.8%; χ(2)=

SUBMITTER: Sveticic J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3323803 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature