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Andrej Marusic

Publications and source records attributed to Andrej Marusic.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Changes in the seasonality of suicides over time in Slovenia, 1971 to 2002.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported changes in the time patterns of suicide, with reduced seasonality in some European and Asian countries. Anyway conflicting data were reported on the fading of suicide seasonality, and in some countries a rising trend was reported. METHODS: Harmonic spectral analysis was used to analyze all suicides in Slovenia in the years 1971 to 2002 (14,325 among males; 4350 among females). Analyses of overall changes are based on data aggregated by intervals of 8 years. RESULTS: In both sexes, seasonal variance accounts for a statistically significant proportion of total variance (36.0% among males; 13.3% among females). Anyway in both sexes the season-attributable variance in the latest interval is considerably lower than in the preceding periods. LIMITATIONS: Data could not be analyzed according to age or to mental disorder diagnosis, since this information was not available. CONCLUSION: The seasonal effect on mortality by suicide is sensitive to change, but its causes seem not to be sex-dependant.

Female↗
PubMed2006

Suicidal and deliberate self-harm ideation among patients with physical illness: the role of coping styles.

The relationship between coping styles and suicidal ideation (SI) or deliberate self-harm (DSH) ideation among patients with physical illness was examined. Four hundred fifteen adult male medical inpatients completed the Coping Styles Questionnaire. Patients with and without SI, and with and without DSH, were compared on coping styles. Sixteen percent of patients (n = 67) had SI and 18.3% (n = 76) had DSH. SI was associated with higher scores on emotional coping and lower scores on rational and detachment coping styles, compared with those without SI. DSH, compared with those without DSH, was associated with significantly higher scores on avoidance coping strategies. These data suggest coping styles among medical patients with and without SI or DSH may differ. The mechanism of this link is not entirely clear, but it may be that coping styles reflect one possible pathway of the association between poor physical health and SI and DSH. Replication of these results in a longitudinal study is needed. If replicated, incorporation of these data into the development of intervention strategies focused on improving coping strategies may be worthwhile.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Suicide prevention strategies: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: In 2002, an estimated 877,000 lives were lost worldwide through suicide. Some developed nations have implemented national suicide prevention plans. Although these plans generally propose multiple interventions, their effectiveness is rarely evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To examine evidence for the effectiveness of specific suicide-preventive interventions and to make recommendations for future prevention programs and research. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: Relevant publications were identified via electronic searches of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and PsychINFO databases using multiple search terms related to suicide prevention. Studies, published between 1966 and June 2005, included those that evaluated preventative interventions in major domains; education and awareness for the general public and for professionals; screening tools for at-risk individuals; treatment of psychiatric disorders; restricting access to lethal means; and responsible media reporting of suicide. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted on primary outcomes of interest: suicidal behavior (completion, attempt, ideation), intermediary or secondary outcomes (treatment seeking, identification of at-risk individuals, antidepressant prescription/use rates, referrals), or both. Experts from 15 countries reviewed all studies. Included articles were those that reported on completed and attempted suicide and suicidal ideation; or, where applicable, intermediate outcomes, including help-seeking behavior, identification of at-risk individuals, entry into treatment, and antidepressant prescription rates. We included 3 major types of studies for which the research question was clearly defined: systematic reviews and meta-analyses (n = 10); quantitative studies, either randomized controlled trials (n = 18) or cohort studies (n = 24); and ecological, or population- based studies (n = 41). Heterogeneity of study populations and methodology did not permit formal meta-analysis; thus, a narrative synthesis is presented. DATA SYNTHESIS: Education of physicians and restricting access to lethal means were found to prevent suicide. Other methods including public education, screening programs, and media education need more testing. CONCLUSIONS: Physician education in depression recognition and treatment and restricting access to lethal methods reduce suicide rates. Other interventions need more evidence of efficacy. Ascertaining which components of suicide prevention programs are effective in reducing rates of suicide and suicide attempt is essential in order to optimize use of limited resources.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed2005

History and geography of suicide: could genetic risk factors account for the variation in suicide rates?

The current state of knowledge of genetic predisposition towards the suicidal behavior allows for a question whether genetic risk factors account for the variation in suicide rates through time and space. Accordingly, the presented paper will attempt to tackle the genetics behind suicidal behavior from the perspective of the populational genetics. First, the variability of suicide rates across Europe is discussed. This is followed by a brief discussion of the J curve (on a map of Europe, the countries with a higher suicide rate form a so-called J curve, which starts in Finland and extends down to Slovenia), which maps on to the second principal component identified for European gene distribution, representing the ancestral adaptation to cold climates and the Uralic language dispersion. Furthermore, we will discuss whether the group of people living within the J-curve could share genes, which may not tolerate excessive amounts alcohol, the combination of which is more likely to end in suicidal behavior. Further along we list possible ways in which suicidal behaviour could have been selected for genetically in populations and identify those specific populations in which it may have appeared. Finally, we point at other locations in the world where a similar interplay of genes and environment has probably occurred, Greenland being the best example of the malignant interaction of alcohol consumption and the trait-like characteristics, which might constitute the vulnerability to suicidal behaviour.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Familial study of suicidal behavior among adolescents in Slovenia.

The number of adolescents who attempt or complete suicide is increasing. Risk factors range from mental disorders, to problems at school, family problems, or difficulties in establishing relationships. A further important, and too often underestimated, risk factor for adolescent suicide is the presence of suicidal behavior in the adolescent's family. We investigated 184 high school adolescents in a region in Slovenia with a high suicide rate (30/100,000/year). They were questioned by means of an anonymous questionnaire about the presence of suicidal behavior in their relatives and about the presence of suicidal thoughts, plans, and acts in themselves. The results revealed that 13% of the adolescents studied had a relative who had attempted suicide and a further 9% of the adolescents had lost a relative due to suicide. About half of all females and almost a third of males had had suicidal thoughts (differences between sexes were statistically significant: chi2 = 6.13; p < .01). Attempted suicide among relatives was positively correlated with the presence of suicidal plans among adolescents (phi = 0.15; p < .05). This correlation proved to be even stronger and statistically more significant in men when we split the sample by gender. All variables (suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans, and suicide attempts) in the adolescent males positively correlated with attempted suicide among their relatives ((phi = 0.28, p < .01; phi) = 0.26, p < .05; phi = 0.34, p < .01; respectively). Our results speak in favor of a higher risk of suicidal behavior among adolescents with suicidal behavior in their families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Asthma and suicidal ideation among youth in the community.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between asthma and suicidal ideation among youth in the community. METHOD: Data were drawn from the MECA (n = 1285), a community-based study of youth aged 9-17 in the United States. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between asthma and suicidal ideation, adjusting for differences in sociodemographic characteristics and mental disorders. RESULTS: Asthma was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of suicidal ideation (OR = 3.25 [1.04, 10.1]), compared to youth without asthma. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that youth who are hospitalized for asthma may have higher than expected levels of suicidal ideation, compared with youth without asthma in the community. This association appears to persist after controlling for the effects of comorbid mental disorders. These findings are consistent with previous clinical reports of an association between physical illness and suicidal ideation, as well as with links between asthma and suicidal ideation among adults. More in-depth evaluation of the mental health of youth hospitalized for asthma may be indicated if these results are replicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Suicide genes floating in a glass of sparkling wine.

The presented commentary will tackle the genetics behind suicidal behavior. The phenotype is defined followed by a brief discussion of two employable genetic methods, namely, positional cloning and the more classical approach involving candidate genes. Furthermore, we will explain the polygenetic, multi-factorial model of suicidal genetics and address the interaction of genes and the environment. Further along we list possible ways in which suicidal behavior could have been selected for genetically in populations and identify those specific populations in which it may have appeared. Finally, we address future ethical implications in this quickly blossoming field of research.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Suicide attempts in the United States: the role of physical illness.

The study aimed to determine the relationship between physical illness, mental disorder, and the likelihood of suicide attempt among adults aged 15-54 in the United States. Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (N=8,098), a national probability sample of adults in the United States. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between self-reported physical illness and the likelihood of suicide attempt. Lung disease (OR=1.8 (1.1, 2.7)), ulcer (OR=2.1 (1.3, 3.4)), and AIDS (OR=44.1 (10.5, 185.6)) were each associated with a significantly increased likelihood of suicide attempt, independent of the effects of mental disorders. Consistent with previous studies, the number of physical illnesses was linearly related to an increased odds of suicide attempt (OR=1.3 (1.2, 1.5)). Possible mechanisms for these associations are discussed. These findings call for the inclusion of a range of physical health problems, especially chronic illnesses, in future research on suicide attempts in the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The Finno-Ugrian suicide hypothesis: variation in European suicide rates by latitude and longitude.

The marked variation regarding the suicide rate in 34 European countries is well described by regressing the national suicide rate on the capital cities' latitudes and on an interaction term of squared latitude multiplied with longitude. The interaction term explains 40.8% and 29.1% of men's and women's suicide rate, respectively, and latitude explains a further significant increment of 10.9% and 10.6% variance of men's and women's suicide rate, respectively. This regression model quantifies the Finno-Ugrian suicide hypothesis of Kondrichin and of Marusic and Farmer. The European countries highest in suicide rate constitute a contiguous, J-shaped belt, spanning from Finland to Austria. This area maps onto the second principal component identified for European gene distribution, representing ancestral adaptation to cold climates and the Uralic language dispersion. Thus, population differences in genetic risk factors may account for the spatial pattern in European suicide rates.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2003

Eighty years of the Slovenian Institute of Public Health: challenges for the future.

Eighty years after the first national public health institution was founded in Slovenia, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia (IPHRS) endeavors to meet ever-growing national demands. With the independence of Slovenia in 1991, new tasks had to be tackled, many of which were initially coupled with typical difficulties of a postcommunist country in transition. Also, increasing demands of the European Union (EU) and other international partners had to be met. The IPHRS monitors the health of the Slovenian population and its determinants and contributes to planning and implementation of population-based interventions for the better health of the whole nation. The diversity of the IPHRS activities is mirrored by the organization's internal complexity, multi-disciplinary approach, and links to various sectors. Currently, activities are organized within five centers: Center for Population Health Research; Center for Health Care Organization, Economics and Informatics; Center for Environmental Health; Center for Communicable Diseases; and Center for Health Promotion. The IPHRS is the key national institution in public health research, which is an integral part of all the areas covered by the Institute. The IPHRS also provides education programs in the field of public health. In the near future, it will be important to sustain current activities while integrating into the new program of Community action in the field of public health as well as contributing to the response to challenging public health issues in the wider context of the whole European region. Our aim is to integrate the Institute's activities in the programs relevant to public health issues of outstanding importance in this European sub-region. The IPHRS, given the geographic position and recent history, can act as an intermediate between the public health networks in EU and other countries in the sub-region.

Forecasting↗
PubMed2003

Undetermined deaths: are they suicides?

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of undetermined deaths by examining similarities and differences between undetermined deaths and other death categories, such as suicides, fatal traffic accidents, and remaining deaths. METHODS: The group of undetermined deaths was compared to other death categories with respect to sex, age, marital status, and month of death of the deceased. A total yearly number of 18.508 deaths in Slovenia in 2001 was analyzed. RESULTS: Significantly more men died in fatal traffic accidents and committed suicide than from undetermined causes. Persons dying in fatal traffic accidents and committing suicides were significantly younger than those dying from undetermined causes of death, whereas persons dying from remaining causes of death were older. The marital status profiles of persons dying from undetermined causes and those committing suicides were similar. Also, undetermined deaths and suicides were both more likely to occur in April and May. CONCLUSION: Underestimation of actual number of suicides could be assumed, given the similarities with the group of undetermined deaths in both seasonality and marital status. As some differences were obtained between the two groups in sex and age, we may conclude that some cases of older women suicides are concealed within the undetermined deaths group.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Feelings of inferiority and suicide ideation and suicide attempt among youth.

AIM: To determine the association between feelings of inferiority and suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among youth in the United States. METHODS: Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey carried out among a representative sample of the 15-54 year old population (n=8,098) in the United States. The subsample analyzed in this study included 1,456 respondents aged 15-19. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between feelings of inferiority and the likelihood of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among youth them. RESULTS: Among the youth, 4.2% described themselves as having feelings of inferiority. Feelings of inferiority were associated with a significantly increased odds of suicidal ideation (odds ratio (OR)=3.2; 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=1.8-5.7) and suicide attempt (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.0-4.8), which persisted after adjusting for differences in socio-demographic characteristics and comorbid mental disorders among youth in the community. There was evidence of interaction between feelings of inferiority and major depression in the likelihood of suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary evidence suggests that feelings of inferiority are associated with a significantly increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior among youth in the community. Intervention and prevention strategies aimed at identifying and intervening with youth at risk may benefit from the assessment of feelings of inferiority.

Adolescent↗