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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-05-2019 | Original Paper

Risk factors for suicide in rural Italy: a case–control study

Authors: Michele Arcangelo Martiello, Giuseppe Boncompagni, Davide Lacangellera, Giuseppe Corlito

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 5/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Increased frequency of suicide in rural areas of Tuscany has been described since the 1970s. A case–control study was conducted in 2014 and 2015. The objective of this study was to identify major individual risk factors related to suicides in six rural districts of Tuscany.

Methods

Cases were identified as all 128 suicides occurred in six rural districts between 2009 and 2013. Controls (three for each case) were matched for age, sex, and general practice. Information was collected from GPs using a structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to investigate the association between individual risk factors and suicide.

Results

Informants for 91 cases of the 128 identified cases were successfully interviewed (response rate 71.1%). About 40.5–65.9% suicide cases and 11.4–20.0% of controls had some psychiatric pathology, accordingly to different definitions. Univariate conditional regression analysis showed that living in isolated houses (OR 2.48), living alone (OR 2.97), not being married (OR 2.63), low income (OR 2.73), psychiatric pathology (OR 9.70), psychotropic medication (OR 5.58), problems with relatives (OR 14.78), psychiatric family history (OR 5.67), and suicidal ideation (OR 15.61) were all risk factors. Practising religion (OR 0.27) was the only protective factor identified. Multivariate regression identified two independently and significantly associated variables namely, psychiatric pathology (OR 8.87) and living alone (OR 2.30).

Conclusions

Results of this study showed, similarly to recent research, that not all suicide events are the results of psychiatric pathology. Prevention strategies should, therefore, target both socio-economic and clinical risk factors.

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Title: Risk factors for suicide in rural Italy: a case–control study
Authors: Michele Arcangelo Martiello
Giuseppe Boncompagni
Davide Lacangellera
Giuseppe Corlito
Publication date: 01-05-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 5/2019
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1632-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Risk factors for suicide in rural Italy: a case–control study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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