To Örebro University

OBJECTIVE: Previous literature has suggested that identifying putative differences in health care seeking patterns before death by suicide depending on age and gender may facilitate more targeted suicide preventive approaches. The aim of this study is to map health care utilisation among individuals in the two years prior to suicide in Sweden in 2015 and to examine possible age and gender differences.

METHODS: Design: A retrospective explorative study with a medical record review covering the two years preceding suicide.

SETTING: All health care units located in 20 of Sweden's 21 regions.

PARTICIPANTS: All individuals residing in participating regions who died by suicide during 2015 (n = 949).

RESULTS: Almost 74% were in contact with a health care provider during the 3 months prior to suicide, and 60% within 4 weeks. Overall health care utilisation during the last month of life did not differ between age groups. However, a higher proportion of younger individuals (< 65 years) were in contact with psychiatric services, and a higher proportion of older individuals (≥ 65 years) were in contact with primary and specialised somatic health care. The proportion of women with any type of health care contact during the observation period was larger than the corresponding proportion of men, although no gender difference was found among primary and specialised somatic health care users within four weeks and three months respectively prior to suicide.

CONCLUSION: Care utilisation before suicide varied by gender and age. Female suicide decedents seem to utilise health care to a larger extent than male decedents in the two years preceding death, except for the non-psychiatric services in closer proximity to death. Older adults seem to predominantly use non-psychiatric services, while younger individuals seek psychiatric services to a larger extent.

Introduction: Drop-out from treatment is a serious problem in eating disorders which remains poorly understood. The present study investigated whether self-image and interpersonal theory could help to explain why eating disorder patients drop out of treatment. Method: Intake data on eating disorder patients who terminated treatment prematurely (N=54) were compared with patients who had completed treatment (N=54) and those who were still in treatment after 12 months (N=54). Self-image was assessed using the structural analysis of social behaviour (SASB), and comparisons were made on demographic and clinical variables. Results: Patients who dropped out had initially presented with less negative self-image and fewer psychological problems compared with remainers. Low levels of SASB self-blame discriminated drop-outs from completers and remainers and significantly predicted treatment drop-out. Discussion: Drop-out in eating disorders appears to be a complex phenomenon, not necessarily as pathological as often assumed. There may be important differences in the treatment goals of drop-outs and therapists; patients who drop out may be choosing to disengage at a time when symptom improvement creates space for closer examination of interpersonal issues.

Background: Despite a plethora of research, there are serious limitations in our knowledge of outcome in eating disorders. Almost all studies have been compromised by the problem of treatment dropout or non-participation in follow-ups. There exists a lack of consensus in definitions of outcome and choice of outcome measures, and there is a dearth of studies focusing on how patients subjectively perceive recovery. The overall aim of this thesis was to address problems in measuring outcome after treatment for eating disorders, with an emphasis on methodological issues. Specific areas of investigation included non-participation in long-term follow-ups, the role of self-image in treatment dropout, outcome among patients who drop out, patients’ subjective perspectives of recovery, and the impact of different methods of measuring outcome.

Method: Four quantitative studies (I, II, III and V) were conducted within the framework of a large Swedish multi-centre study of eating disorders, which adopted a prospective, longitudinal and naturalistic design. Study IV was a qualitative investigation encompassing interviews with former ex-patients who were considered recovered.

Results: Study I suggested that the reasons for non-participation in research were mainly patient related (69%). Those declining further participation in follow-ups were reported significantly lower levels of obsession-compulsion and anxiety, while those not traceable reported significantly higher levels of hostility at admission. Study II suggested that patients who dropped out from treatment initially presented with less negative self-image and fewer psychological problems compared to those who remained in treatment. Low levels of self-blame discriminated dropouts from completers and remainers, and significantly predicted treatment dropout. Study III found no significant differences between dropouts and completers at follow-up, with the exception that dropouts were more dissatisfied with treatment. However, patterns of treatment response revealed that those who completed treatment made significantly greater changes in terms of reduced eating disorder symptoms, fewer psychological problems and a more positive self-image compared to dropouts. Study IV found that patients who had recovered from an eating disorder tended to describe other dimensions of outcome than those usually reported in follow-ups. Patients tended to view recovery in terms of being able to relate in a relaxed and accepting manner to food, their bodies, themselves as individuals, and their social environment. Some perceived recovery in terms of coping better with emotions, while others experienced themselves as healthier than people generally regarding food and weight. Study V applied some of the most frequently used outcome measures for eating disorders and found marked variations in the number of patients who could be considered in remission. Overall remission rates varied from 24.3% to 77.8%, depending on the outcome measure used.

Discussion: The results suggest that non-participation and dropout are not unitary phenomena. There is also a need for greater consensus on how eating disorder outcome should be measured. This is necessary in order to make comparisons between different outcome studies meaningful, and to elucidate the overall picture of eating disorders outcome.

Our aim in this study was to describe how patients perceive having recovered from eating disorders. A qualitative method with a phenomenographic approach was used to identify various ways of experiencing recovery. Four categories emerged, describing how the subjects now relate in a relaxed and accepting manner to food, the body, themselves as individuals, and their social environment. Some perceived recovery as coping with emotions, while others experienced themselves as healthier than people in general regarding food and weight. Different aspects were emphasized as important for recovery. As long as patients perceive themselves as recovered, it is not necessary that they fulfill all conceivable criteria for recovery.

INTRODUCTION:

There is a lack of knowledge about the outcome of eating disorder patients who terminate treatment prematurely. The present study followed-up eating disorder patients who had previously dropped out of treatment and examined clinical status 36 months after intake.

METHOD:

Dropouts (n = 30) were compared with treatment completers (n = 52) on diagnostic status, clinical symptoms, psychosocial adjustment and treatment satisfaction at follow-up. Patterns of change from intake to follow-up within groups, as well as between groups, were explored.

RESULTS:

No significant differences were found between groups at follow-up, except for more treatment dissatisfaction reported among dropouts. When patterns of change were examined between groups, patients who completed treatment were found to have made significantly greater changes (less eating disorder symptoms, less psychological problems and more positive self-image) compared to dropouts.

DISCUSSION:

Although no significant differences in outcome were found between dropouts and completers, greater clinical improvement was found among those who completed treatment. The dropouts examined in this study did well despite premature termination of treatment. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Objectives: To use simple measures of laterality and hand control that can identify a greater risk of poorer scholastic ability, potentially signalling suboptimal hemispheric lateralisation.

Design: Analysis of material from a birth cohort study.

Setting: Members of the National Child Development Study, a British birth cohort study following people born in 1958.

Participants: 10 612 children who undertook tests at age 11 years.

Primary outcome measures: Teacher-administered tests of non-verbal general ability, verbal general ability, reading comprehension and mathematics.

Results: Linear regression produced associations (and 95% CIs) with tests of verbal general ability, non-verbal general ability, reading comprehension and mathematics scores for the lowest third (compared with highest) of a left-hand control test involving picking up matches of -1.21 (-1.73 to -0.68; p<0.001), -0.72 (-1.14 to -0.29; p=0.001), -0.70 (-1.06 to -0.35; p<0.001) and -1.32 (-1.90 to -0.73; p<0.001). Among those in the lowest third of the right-hand control test score, mixed-handedness compared with right-handedness was associated with poorer scholastic performance, with regression coefficients (and 95% CIs; p values) of 1.90 (-3.01 to -0.80; p=0.001), -1.25 (-2.15 to -0.35; p=0.007), -1.28 (2.04 to -0.53; p=0.001) and -1.33 (-2.53 to -0.13; p=0.030). The estimates are for a point change in the scholastic test scores, after adjustment for sex, left-hand motor function and social class. Statistically significant associations with mixed-handedness were only observed for the lowest third of right-hand motor function.

Conclusions: Measures involving poorer left-hand motor function may represent useful markers of reduced cognitive function possibly reflecting suboptimal hemispheric lateralisation. Crude measures of laterality such as reported non-right-handedness may be more useful for research when combined with measures of motor function.

OBJECTIVE: Lack of participation in follow-ups is thought to be a serious bias in outcome research on eating disorders; however, little systematic knowledge exists about the problem. The present study aimed to delineate non-participation in long-term follow-up research, and explore the reasons for non-participation.

METHOD: Eating disorder patients (N=840) entering a naturalistic, longitudinal multi-centre study were divided into participators (N=508) and non-participators (N=332) in 36-month follow-ups. Non-participators were further classified as either active (i.e. refused participation or failed to attend scheduled appointments) or passive non-participators (i.e. could not be traced).

RESULTS: Active non-participators exhibited significantly lower levels of general and eating disorder psychopathology at intake compared to participators, while passive non-participators reported higher levels of hostility.

DISCUSSION: Systematic exploration of non-participation in longitudinal research can help to mitigate the problem of indistinct results due to missing data. Barriers to successful longitudinal research and how to overcome non-participation at endpoint are discussed.

Objective: To examine the impact of using different outcome measures on estimates of remission rates in eating disorders (ED).

Method: Adult ED patients (n = 334) included in a naturalistic, longitudinal project were assessed 3 years after intake. Remission was operationally defined using six different measures of outcome. Pairwise analyses of agreement between outcome measures were also calculated.

Results: Remission rates for the entire group varied considerably from 24.3 to 77.8% depending on how remission was defined and who made the assessment (experts or patients). Outcome measures performed differently depending on diagnosis, and agreement between measures varied from none to very good.

Conclusion: The impact of different definitions of outcome on remission estimates is considerable. There is a need to validate different estimates of remission by examining them in relation to multiple domains of outcome over time and by critically examining their relative merits both empirically and clinically.

Background: One of the goals in forensic psychiatric care is to reduce the risk of recidivism, but current knowledge about the general outcome of forensic psychiatric treatment is limited.

Aims: To analyse the rate of criminal recidivism and mortality after discharge in a sample of patients sentenced to forensic psychiatric treatment in a Swedish county.

Methods: All offenders in Örebro County, Sweden, sentenced to forensic psychiatric treatment and discharged during 1992-2007 were included: 80 males and eight females. Follow-up data was retrieved from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, the National Cause-of-Death register and clinical files. Mean follow-up time was 9.4 years.

Results: The mean age at discharge was 40 years. Schizophrenia, other psychoses and personality disorders were the most prevalent diagnoses. Thirty-eight percent of those still alive and still living in the country re-offended and were sentenced to a new period of forensic psychiatric treatment or incarceration during follow-up. Four male re-offenders committed serious violent crimes. Substance-related diagnosis was significantly associated with risk of recidivism and after adjustment for diagnoses, age and history of serious violent crime, the Hazard Ratio was 4.04 (95% CI 1.51-10.86, P = 0.006). Of all included patients, 23% had died at the end of follow-up (standardized mortality rate 10.4).

Conclusions: Since repetition of serious violent crimes was unusual, results indicate a positive development subsequent to treatment for those alive at follow-up.

Clinical implications: The high mortality rate suggests that more attention should be paid in evaluation of the patients' somatic and psychiatric health during and after care in order to prevent premature death.

Background: Follow-up information about outcome for hospitalized mentally disordered offenders (MDO) is necessary for evaluation and improvement in quality of forensic psychiatric care.

Aim: A study was undertaken to estimate the standard mortality rate (SMR) of a population based sample of people sentenced to forensic psychiatric care.

Method: All MDOs in Orebro County, Sweden, discharged from a forensic psychiatric treatment unit between 1992 and 1999 were identified (n = 46). The variables were gender, age, offence, diagnosis and duration of admission. Case linkage was made with the National Cause-of-Death register. Median follow-up time was 53 months (0-93).

Results: The sample yielded a significantly elevated SMR 13.4 (95% CI 4.35-31.3) times higher than that in the general population, mostly due to suicide.

Conclusion: The cohort size is small but representative, and it provides data from an additional country for the growing international pool confirming the high risk of premature, generally self-inflicted death among MDOs. Resettlement and rehabilitation services for them may need to take as much account of mortality risk as that of re-offending.

Background: Body dissatisfaction is common among both females and males. Dissatisfaction with the body is a risk factor both for onset of eating disorders and for abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). Few studies have however investigated if there are other similarities in respect to self-image or psychiatric symptoms between clinical samples of eating disordered males and males in treatment for negative effects of AAS use.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare two clinical samples, one of males with ED and one of males who used AAS, regarding self-image and psychiatric symptoms.

Methods: This study compared males with eating disorders (n = 13) and males who recently stopped AAS use (n = 29) on self-image and psychiatric symptoms, using The Structural Analysis of Social Behavior self-questionnaire and a shortened version of The Symptom Check List.

Results: The eating disorder group reported significantly lower scores for Self-emancipation and Active self-love and higher scores for Self-blame and Self-hate. Both groups reported serious psychiatric symptoms. The common denominator between groups was serious psychiatric symptomatology rather than negative self-image.

Conclusions: The negative self-image profile, especially self-hate, found among males with Eating Disorders may indicate that the studied groups differ in aetiology of the underlying problems. The serious psychiatric symptoms in both groups call staff to pay attention to any thoughts of suicide due to severe depressive symptoms where by specialized psychiatric treatment may be needed.

The aim of this study was to describe how former male patients perceive life after recovery from an eating disorder. A qualitative method with a phenomenographic approach was used to identify ways of experiencing recovery. Two descriptive categories were developed: body acceptance and self-worth. Six conceptions describe how recovered patients now relate in a balanced way to exercise and food, using strategies to avoid relapse. With a sense of self-acceptance and autonomy, they now appreciate their social life. Some perceive recovery as coping with remaining impulses to diet or exercise. Others experience themselves as totally free from the eating disorder.

Background: It is unclear whether benzodiazepines increase the risk of suicide. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that benzodiazepines are associated with an increased risk of suicide, by comparing psychopharmacological interventions between psychiatric patients who committed suicide and a group of matched controls.

Methods: The case group comprised 154 psychiatric patients (101 men, 53 women; age range: 13-96 years) who had committed suicide in orebro County, Sweden. Control psychiatric patients matched by age, sex, and main psychiatric diagnosis were selected for each case. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios in unadjusted and adjusted models.

Results: Benzodiazepine prescriptions were more common among cases than controls (65/154 [42.2%] versus 43/154 [27.9%], p = 0.009, odds ratio: 1.89 [95% CI: 1.17-3.03]). This association remained significant in a model adjusted for previous suicide attempts and somatic hospitalizations (odds ratio: 1.83 [95% CI: 1.06-3.14]). No statistically significant differences were seen between the groups in the use of any other subtype of psychopharmaceutical agent.

Conclusions: These data indicate that benzodiazepine use may increase the risk of suicide. However, this study is limited by the potential for indication bias.

We interviewed 20 adolescents who were coercively placed in residential or psychiatric care. The aim was to explore their views on the way staff relate and perform their duties, favorable characteristics in staff, consequences of different treatment from staff and their safety experiences. Thematic analysis identified the following themes: Situational triggers of frustration; Care-based; rule-based; or passive-avoidant interaction styles toward adolescents and their responses; Adolescents' reflections about staff's interaction styles; and the Consequences on the unit atmosphere depending on different interaction styles toward the adolescents. Adolescents preferred staff who showed them respect and a clear wish to make life easier.

BACKGROUND: Research is required to identify those psychiatric interventions with a protective effect against suicide. The overarching aim of the current study was to examine whether completed suicide in psychiatric patients in a Swedish population was associated with the quantity and nature of previous medical and psychosocial treatment interventions.

METHODS: This retrospective case-control study (n = 308) compared a group of deceased psychiatric patients with matched controls. For every case of suicide, a control was found within psychiatry that matched according to sex, age, and primary psychiatric diagnosis. A stepwise forward logistic regression model with suicide as the dependent outcome variable was used.

RESULTS: Receiving pharmacotherapy combined with psychotherapy [OR: 0.44 (95% CI: 0.226-0.876), p = 0.019] and a higher number of outpatient visits in psychiatry [OR: 0.99 (95% CI: 0.982-0.999), p = 0.028] were negatively associated with suicide. These associations were still significant after controlling for previous serious suicide attempts and somatic comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS: Frequent visits and pharmacotherapy combined with psychotherapy seem to be important for preventing suicide in psychiatric patients. The reasons for not receiving such therapy are important issues for further study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between perceived mental health service provision and quality of life (QoL) as perceived by patients in psychiatric outpatient care.

Methods: A total of 373 adult patients registered at 15 psychiatric outpatient clinics in three regions in central and southern Sweden were included in the study. Survey data were collected using a questionnaire on mental health service provision, symptom severity, recovery, clinical diagnosis, sociodemographics (serving as independent variables) and QoL (serving as the dependent variable). Three aspects of mental health service provision were used: patients’ perceived quality of care, perceived staff-patient interaction, and patient reported psychiatric treatments. Structural equation modelling was used to model the relationship among the variables.

Results: Variables in mental health service provision showed few direct associations with patients’ perceived QoL. Instead, the associations of mental health service provision on QoL were mainly mediated through symptom severity and recovery. These relationships were retained after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and clinical diagnoses. The final model achieved excellent goodness of fit (χ2 = 49.502, p = 0.230, RMSEA = 0.020, CFI = 0.997 and a SRMR = 0.024).

Conclusion: This study shows that mental health service provision is associated with patients’ perceived QoL; however, this association is mostly indirect and mediated by reduced symptom severity and increased recovery. This finding can help inform the design of future interventions to enhance service provision to improve patients’ QoL.

Objectives: The aim of the current study is to investigate what males experience as helpful in their recovery process from eating disorders (ED).

Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews within a phenomenological approach, and using content analysis to excavate overarching text themes.

Setting: Norway and Sweden.

Participants: Included were 15 males with an age range from 19 to 52 years. Duration of illness varied between 3 and 25 years of experience with anorexia nervosa (n=10), bulimia nervosa (n=4) or ED not otherwise specified (n=1).

Results: The content analysis revealed four main categories, that is, 'the need for a change', 'a commitment to leave the eating disorder behind', 'interpersonal changes' and 'searching for a life without an eating disorder'. These categories comprise features like motivation to change, gaining structure in eating situations, a re-learning of personal and interpersonal skills as well as accepting losses and starting a reorientation of identity and meaning. We noted a rather goal-oriented approach to help seeking and a variation in how the males engaged their social network in resolving the challenges associated with the recovery process. Still, the overall nature of the recovery process highly accords with what has been reported for women.

Discussion: A clinical implication from our findings is that symptom relief is important to facilitate good circles of improvement, but that the nature of the recovery process would require a wider perspective in treatment. Clinicians may also be informed about challenges related to an instrumental approach to help seeking reported in this study.

Suicidal individuals often communicate their intention to commit suicide, but not necessarily verbally. Psychiatric nurses play a central role in the care of patients exhibiting suicidal behaviour or thoughts. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore nurses’ experiences of the indirect messages about forthcoming suicide from patients’ everyday life before they committed suicide. A qualitative design was used with a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Seven nurses working in specialist psychiatric care were interviewed about their experience of the phenomenon communication about suicide. Results show how the nurses noticed changes in patients just before they committed suicide. These changes included rapid improvement, disguise of real feelings, and unreceptiveness to further treatment or encouragements. The nurses also described patients becoming aware of painful life conditions of losing hope and confidence in the future and experiencing feelings of powerlessness or an inability to influence the situation. Their last moments were characterised by a greater preoccupation with thoughts about death and finding ways to express farewells. This manifested itself in practical preparations and expressing gratitude to people, which was understood by the nurses as a way of saying goodbye. This study shows that it is possible for skilled staff to develop an understanding of a suicidal patient’s internal state and to recognise the non-verbal messages of someone who later committed suicide. The knowledge of how patients prepare and act before suicide could be used to complement a structural suicide risk assessment.

There is a knowledge gap about predictors of treatment outcomes in alcohol use disorder (AUD) in socially stable women. This study examined factors that may predict abstinence 12 months after the end of treatment for AUD in socially stable women. Fifty-seven women with AUD participated in 12-month follow-up. Information about sociodemographic, alcohol-related, psychiatric symptoms, psychological functioning, and participants' treatment goals and ability to change alcohol habits were gathered from structured interviews and self-report instruments. Predictors for abstinence at the 12-month follow up were calculated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Significant predictors for abstinence were having no history of childhood abuse (OR: 8.13; 95%CI: 2.22-29.75; p < .01) and a goal of abstinence at the end of treatment (OR: 15.17; 95%CI: 3.45-66.69; p < .001). Most participants (>60%) achieved their goals of abstinence or low-risk drinking. The results highlight the significance of identifying patients with experiences of childhood abuse, since such experiences may adversely affect the outcome of AUD treatment. Our findings also emphasize the importance of patients' own goals of abstinence, since it resulted in the most stable outcome. Treatment could, therefore, also focus on motivating individuals to aim for abstinence.

Background: To examine the relationship between treatment outcome, as measured according to change in alcohol consumption, and a history of childhood abuse (emotional, physical, sexual) in socially stable women undergoing treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods: Participants were assessed using the Addiction Severity Index and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview at the beginning of treatment (n = 75), end of treatment (n = 59) and 12 month follow-up after treatment (n = 57). Self-report data on alcohol consumption were obtained at all three time-points using the Alcohol Habits Inventory-Revised 2. Self-report data on childhood maltreatment were obtained at the beginning of treatment using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-short form. Study outcomes were changes in alcohol consumption (grams of pure alcohol per week), risk-drinking and reported abstinence.

Results: Of the 75 women enrolled, 38 (50.7%) reported a history of childhood abuse and the rest did not. Both groups showed a significant improvement in all three outcomes at the end of treatment and at 12-month follow-up. At the end of treatment, a significant inter-group difference was found for reported abstinence (non-abused group, 39.3% vs abused, 12.9%; p < 0.05). At 12-month follow-up, significant inter-group differences were observed for all treatment outcomes, with superior outcomes being found for the non-abused group, including a higher proportion of women with reported abstinence (55.6% vs 13.3%; p < 0.01).

Conclusion: The present findings suggest that an evaluation of a possible history of childhood abuse is warranted in all women seeking treatment for AUD, irrespective of social stability. In terms of clinical practice, the results suggest that additional interventions may be warranted in this population.

Psychiatric symptoms and personality characteristics were studied in men (n=252) and women (n=86) as they commenced treatment for excessive alcohol use. The Addiction Severity Index, Symptom Check List, and Temperament and Character Inventory were used. ANOVA with early/late onset and gender as covariates showed significantly lower scores for psychiatric symptoms and more mature personality characteristics in the late-onset group compared to early onset. Men described more depression and anxiety, and women higher persistence. Results indicate the importance of considering age at onset of excessive alcohol use when patients enter treatment because different treatment approaches may be required.

It is unclear whether exposure to childhood maltreatment is associated with the age of onset of alcohol use disorder (AUD). A group of socially stable women with AUD seeking treatment (n = 75) were interviewed using the Addiction Severity Index and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. They also filled out the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-short form. Emotional abuse, sexual abuse and multiple childhood traumas were found to be associated with earlier onset of AUD. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that independent predictors for an earlier onset of AUD were exposure to emotional abuse (beta = -7.44, SE = 2.83, adjusted p = 0.010) and mother's alcohol/substance problems (beta = -7.87, SE = 3.45, adjusted p = 0.026). These variables explained 18.9% of the variance of age of onset of AUD. These findings highlight a need for increased clinical attention to AUD subgroups who have experienced childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse, as well as a need for including support in the patient's own parental role in the treatment.

Our knowledge about males’ perceptions about causes of eating disorder is very limited, but can be useful in the treatment planning for males. The aim of this study was to describe how male former patients perceived causes of onset of their eating disorder. Fifteen males previously treated for eating disorders and now considering themselves as recovered where interviewed at ages 19 - 52. All interviews were recorded and analyzed qualitatively using a phenomenographic approach. Three categories of perceived causes of onset of eating disorders were found. The first category: self-dissatisfaction, was presented with three conceptions: “High achievements and demands”, “Body-dissatisfaction” and “Low self-esteem”. The second category: family environment, comprised the two conceptions: “Difficulty in family interaction and communication” and “Excessive expectations from family members”. The third category was stressful events outside the family, and consisted of the three conceptions: “Bullying, bad situation at school”, “Moving to new places/separation from friends” and “Societal ideals”. Males’ perceptions of causes of onset of their eating disorder were in many aspects similar to those earlier described for women. In treatment, it is important that the clinicians show a sincere interest in perceived causes, since it may facilitate a good working alliance with the patient.

Objectives: Individuals who die by suicide often consult their general practitioners (GPs) in their final weeks of life. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper knowledge of the clinical characteristics and GP assessments and treatments among individuals who consulted their GPs during the month preceding suicide. Further, we compared these features in those with and without contact with psychiatric services (PC and NPC, respectively) during the two years that preceded the suicide.

Design: A nationwide retrospective explorative study investigating medical records.

Setting: Primary care in Sweden.

Participants: Individuals who died by suicide in Sweden in 2015 with a GP visit within 30 days of death.

Results: The study cohort corresponds to one fifth (n = 238) of all suicides that occurred in Sweden in 2015 (n = 1179), representing all those with available primary care records showing contact with a GP during the final 30 days of life (NPC: n = 125; PC: n = 113). The mean age was 58 years +/- 19. Patients in the NPC group were older (NPC: 63 years +/- 19 vs. PC: 53 years +/- 18, p < 0.0001) and presented psychiatric symptoms less often (NPC: 50% vs. PC: 67%, p < 0.006). Somatic symptoms were as common as psychiatric symptoms for the whole sample, being present in more than half of individuals. Suicide risk was noted in only 6% of all individuals. Referral to psychiatric services occurred in 14%, less commonly for the NPC group (NPC: 6% vs. PC: 22%, p < 0.001). Cardiovascular or respiratory symptoms were noted in 19%, more often in the NPC group (NPC: 30% vs. PC: 6%, p < 0.001), as were diagnoses involving the circulatory system (all 10%, NPC:14% vs. PC: 5%, p < 0.020).

Conclusion: A high level of somatic symptoms was observed in primary care patients both with and without psychiatric contact, and this might have influenced GPs' management decisions. Psychiatric symptoms were noted in two thirds of those with psychiatric contact but only half of those without. While GPs noted psychiatric symptoms in over half of all individuals included in the study, they seldom noted suicide risk. These findings highlight the need for increased attention to psychiatric symptoms and suicide risk assessment, particularly among middle-aged and older individuals presenting with somatic symptoms.

Strengths and limitations of this study: The National Cause of Death Register has excellent coverage of suicide deaths and access to medical records was very good. The medical record review provided detailed information regarding primary care utilization before death by suicide. Because of the lack of statistical power, due to the limited number of persons with GP contact during the last month of life, we chose not to correct for multiple comparisons. Our study approach did not capture the reasons behind GPs' documentation of elevated suicide risk. No systematic inter-rater reliability (IRR) testing was made, however, reviewers received training and continuous support from the research group.