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Biomedical subjects

E Isometsä

Publications and source records attributed to E Isometsä.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Suicide in non-major depressions.

We compared depressive suicides who had unipolar depression not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of major depression (non-major depressions) with suicides who had major depression. A random sample of 229 suicides representing all suicides in Finland within a 12-month period were comprehensively examined using the psychological autopsy method and diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria. We included in this study all cases of current depressive disorder not otherwise specified (n = 48), adjustment disorder with depressed mood (n = 6) and dysthymia (n = 4). These 58 cases of suicide in non-major depressions were compared with the suicides with unipolar major depression (n = 71) in the same random sample. The non-major depressive victims were younger, and comprised more males, more cases with psychoactive substance use disorders, more secondary depressives, and more cases not having contact with health care, or cases not having communicated suicidal intent despite such contact. Recent life events were also reported more common among those with non-major depressions, particularly during the final week. The findings suggest that suicides in major depression and in unipolar depressions not fulfilling the criteria for major depression are likely to differ in several clinically relevant characteristics besides depressive symptomatology.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Mental disorders and comorbidity in attempted suicide.

The present study examined the prevalence and comorbidity of mental disorders according to DSM-III-R among male and female suicide attempters. A systematic sample of 114 patients from consecutive cases of attempted suicide referred to a general hospital in Helsinki between 1 January and 31 July 1990 was interviewed. In 98% of the cases at least one Axis I diagnosis was made. Depressive syndromes were more common among females (85%) than males (64%), and alcohol dependence was more common among males (64%) than females (21%). A high proportion of suicide attempters (82%) suffered from comorbid mental disorders. Comorbidity appears to play an important role in parasuicide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Recent life events and completed suicide in bipolar affective disorder. A comparison with major depressive suicides.

While recent psychosocial stress has been shown to be associated with the initiation of both first and subsequent illness episodes in bipolar affective disorder, its relationship to completed suicide in bipolar disorder is not known. As a part of a nationwide psychological autopsy study, two populations representing all suicides in Finland in DSM-III-R bipolar disorder or unipolar major depression were comprehensively examined and compared. Recent life events were retrospectively examined by interviewing next of kin using a 32-item Recent Life Change Questionnaire. Life event data was available on 25 bipolar and 56 unipolar cases. In about two-thirds of both bipolar (64%) and unipolar (66%) victims, at least one life event was reported to have occurred during the last 3 months and in 42% of both groups during the final week. The events of bipolar victims were more commonly classified as possibly dependent on their own behaviour (bipolars 88% vs. unipolars 63%, P = 0.004). Among bipolars, more males than females had had recent life events (males 86% vs. females 37%, P = 0.03). The majority of completed suicides in both bipolar and unipolar affective disorders seem to be associated with recent psychosocial stress; however, the stressors are commonly likely to be dependent on the victim's behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Project plan for studies on suicide, attempted suicide, and suicide prevention.

Completed and attempted suicide are major public health problems in most western countries. The importance of suicidal behavior as a health problem, particularly among adolescents and young adults, has been emphasized by the European Union, the WHO (Europe), as well as the Finnish authorities. Due to the exceptionally high suicide mortality, suicide prevention has been one of the main targets of Finnish health policy since the late 1980s. However, to develop feasible strategies for suicide prevention, better knowledge of the phenomenon of self-destruction is necessary. The Department of Mental Health of the National Public Health Institute has been actively involved in suicide research and the development of suicide strategies both in Finland and western Europe since 1986. The success is based on a long tradition of suicide research in Finland, the representative and reliable suicide data, a highly motivated research group, and also the necessary economic support by both the National Public Health Institute and the Finnish Academy. This article outlines our groups research plan for the next few years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Suicide in psychotic major depression.

A sample of unipolar DSM-III-R major depressive suicide victims representing all suicides in current unipolar major depression within 1 year in Finland was carefully examined by psychological autopsy. The sample was divided into currently psychotic (n = 24) or non-psychotic (n = 46) subgroups, the psychotic subgroup was described and the two subgroups were compared. The majority (79%) of psychotic as well as nonpsychotic (87%) major depressive suicide victims were found to be complicated, comorbid cases. No major differences between the psychotic and nonpsychotic subgroups were found in sociodemographic features, comorbidity, clinical history or communication of suicide intent. However, the psychotic victims were more likely to have used violent suicide methods (88% vs. 59%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Do reversed depressive symptoms occur together as a syndrome?

Although the DSM-IIIR diagnostic criteria for major depression include hypersomnia, increase in appetite, and in children and in adolescents irritability, there is no general agreement on the existence of a depressive syndrome with reversed vegetative symptoms. Our findings suggest that these reversed depressive symptoms may not occur together as a syndrome. However, they may share an enhanced responsiveness to moclobemide treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Completed suicide and recent lithium treatment.

Of 1397 completed suicides in Finland in one year, all victims (N = 20) that had used lithium in prophylaxis and treatment of a mood disorder during the three final months were carefully examined. Eight victims (40%) fulfilled the criteria of recent adequate lithium prophylaxis. Continuous or intermittent noncompliance with psychopharmacological treatment during the last two years was reported in the majority (85%) of the victims. Only two cases used lithium as a suicide method. The study suggests that problems especially in compliance but also in quality of treatment are likely to limit the usefulness of lithium treatment in suicide prevention.

Adult↗