Characteristics of Korean suicide: a case-control psychological autopsy study

The pattern of psychological and clinical risk factors to suicide among Korean population is an important issue. This study aimed to identify the risk factor characteristics for Korean suicides. This was a case-control psychological autopsy (PA) study. Using this, 56 suicide deceased were compared with 36 living controls matching age and gender. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family members, cohabitants and the next of kin of the subjects. Data were collected on a wide range of potential risk and protective factors, including demographic, life event, clinical and psychological variables. The relative contribution of these factors towards suicide was examined in a binary logistic regression model. As a result, several factors were found to significantly and independently contribute to suicide: adjustment in employment and school, trustful people, problem with cohabitants, unhappiness in childhood, history of past attempts, psychiatric illness, psychological stress from life events and difficulties. Though both case groups and control group have life events and difficulties over the ratio of 90%, the level of stress in the case groups was significantly much more severe. Besides, psychological strain plays an important role in suicide. Risk factors for suicide in Korea are definitely not different from those in the West, China and Japan.

keywords: 자살, 심리적 부검, 대조군(타살), 정신장애, Korea, suicide, psychological autopsy, psychological strain, Korea, suicide, psychological autopsy, psychological strain

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Article Contents

Vol.31 No.2

Characteristics of Korean suicide: a case-control psychological autopsy study

Abstract

Reference

Korean Journal of Psychology: General