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Cited by 579Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbuseMental Health Treatment and Access

Lifetime risk of suicide for affective disorder, alcoholism and schizophrenia

Inskip, Hazel, Harris, Clare, Barraclough, Brian·1998·British Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1192/bjp.172.1.35
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Abstract

Background: The lifetime risks of suicide are generally quoted as 15% for affective disorder and alcoholism and 10% for schizophrenia, based on data from 1921–1975 and on calculations performed before computerised modelling techniques became available. This study recalculates the risk using contemporary data and modern techniques. Method: Twenty-seven mortality studies provided data for affective disorder, 27 for alcohol dependence and 29 for schizophrenia. The proportion of the cohort who had died was plotted against the proportion of deaths from suicide. Modelling techniques fitted curves through the data points extrapolating them to cohort extinction, thus estimating the lifetime risk of suicide for each disorder. Results: The lifetime risk was estimated at 6% for affective disorder, 7% for alcohol dependence and 4% for schizophrenia. Conclusions: The lifetime suicide risk figures often quoted in the literature appear to be too high.

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Crossref · 10.1192/bjp.172.1.35

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  • Meta-analyses that were based on more sophisticated statistical methods and included large long-term follow-up studies found lower figures.

    “Meta-analyses that were based on more sophisticated statistical methods and included large long-term follow-up studies found lower figures (Bostwick & Pankratz 2000, Inskip et al. 1998, Palmer et al. 2005).”

    From Excess early mortality in schizophrenia. (2014) · cites this paper as Inskip et al. 1998

  • Several investigators later concluded that Miles's estimates were most likely too high.

    “Several investigators later concluded that Miles's estimates were most likely too high for various reasons (Blair-West et al. 1997, 1999;Bostwick & Pankratz 2000;Inskip et al. 1998;Palmer et al. 2005).”

    From Excess early mortality in schizophrenia. (2014) · cites this paper as Inskip et al. 1998

  • Inskip et al. (1998) estimated the lifetime risk to be 6% for affective disorder, 7% for alcohol dependence, and 4% for schizophrenia.

    “Inskip et al. (1998) estimated the lifetime risk to be 6% for affective disorder, 7% for alcohol dependence, and 4% for schizophrenia, whereas Palmer and colleagues (2005) estimated the lifetime risk to be 5.6% for schizophrenia.”

    From Excess early mortality in schizophrenia. (2014) · cites this paper as Inskip et al. 1998

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Authors
Inskip, H., Harris, C., & Barraclough, B.
Affiliations
University of Southampton (GB)
Corresponding author
Barraclough, Brian
ORCID
Inskip, Hazel
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published
1998-01
Volume
172
Issue
1
Pages
35-37
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
DOI
10.1192/bjp.172.1.35
OpenAlex
W2059683057
Cited by
579
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 24
FWCI
30.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 7307 d)
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
suicide risk, mood disorders, alcoholism, schizophrenia, mortality studies, risk overestimation
MeSH terms
Alcoholism, Humans, Risk, Risk Factors, Schizophrenia, Suicide, Cohort Studies, Mood Disorders

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