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Epileptic Suicide Rate Exceeds General Population
Epilepsy Behav; ePub 2016 Jun 30; Tian, Cui, et al
The suicide risk of people with epilepsy in the US exceeded that of the general population, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed suicide data in the general population from the US National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to investigate suicide burden among those with epilepsy and risk factors associated with suicide and to suggest measures to prevent suicide among people with epilepsy. They found:
• From 2003 through 2011, the estimated annual suicide mortality rate among people with epilepsy was 16.89/100,000 per persons, 22% higher than that in the general population.
• Compared to those without epilepsy, those with epilepsy were more likely to have died from suicide in houses, apartments, or residential institutions (81% vs 76%, respectively) and were twice as likely to poison themselves (38% vs 17%).
• More of those with epilepsy aged 40 to 49 died from suicide than comparably aged persons without epilepsy (29% vs 22%).
Tian N, Cui W, Zack M, Kobau R, Fowler KA, Hesdorffer DC. Suicide among people with epilepsy: A population-based analysis of data from the US National Violent Death Reporting System, 17 states, 2003-2011. [Published online ahead of print June 30, 2016]. Epilepsy Behav. doi:10.1016.j.yebeh.2016.05.028.