Abstract

MIGUEL, L. et al. Epidemiological study of suicide in Seville in 2004. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2005, n.39, pp.43-53. ISSN 1988-611X.

In this paper, we present an epidemiological descriptive study of the suicides occurred in Seville in 2004 and the results are compared with data obtained in previous studies in the same area. Suicide rate was 8,36 per 100.000 inhabitants with a male/female ratio of 2,6:1. The medium age has been 54,3 years (52,7 years in males and 58,7 years in females). Suicides predominate in the second and third trimester of the year (spring and summer). Taking into account the civil status, the mayor frequency appears in married (31,2%). Only 9,5% of the cases had antecedents of previous autolysis intents. Hanging was the most frequent mechanism to commit suicide in men (50.9%) while in women was jumping (41,5%). In 57,1% of cases there were antecedents of mental disorder mainly depression of depressive symptoms (65,5%) followed by schizophrenia (15,5%). Toxicological analyses were performed in 78,2% of cases with positive results in 69,6%. Ethanol was the toxic most detected (24,3%) followed by benzodiazepines (18,3%) and antidepressants (11,3%). According to the results of the study, we observe a certain stabilization of the suicide rates in Seville from the middle of the XXth century up to now.

Keywords : Suicide; epidemiology; Seville; autopsy; forensic medicine.

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