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U Bille-Brahe

Publications and source records attributed to U Bille-Brahe.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Parasuicide in the Nordic countries.

This article gives an account of some findings of the WHO/EURO multicentre study on parasuicide from the five Nordic centres: Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden), and the countries of Funen (Denmark), Sø-Trøndelag (Norway) and Västerbotten (Sweden). For parasuicide patients treated in hospital in these five Nordic centres, the parasuicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants per annum were 222 for women, 213 for men and 224 for both sexes combined. In all the Nordic centres except Helsinki, women had higher parasuicide rates than men. The female/male parasuicide ratio was 1.16 for all Nordic centres. The highest parasuicide rates in the whole material were found in Helsinki, Stockholm and Funen, and the lowest in Sør-Trøndelag and Västerbotten. The highest parasuicide rates lay in the 30-39 age interval, i.e. the peak of parasuicide rates was in older age groups than previously reported. Single people, especially divorcees and those who have never been married, constitute a high-risk group in both sexes. The risk of parasuicide for single men is three times that for married men in all the Nordic centres except Sør-Trøndelag, where the risk is five times higher. The parasuicide risk for single women is twice as high as for married women except for women in Funen, where the risk for single and married women is almost equal. Exceptionally high parasuicide rates are also reported for Finnish citizens in Sweden, compared with Finns from the Helsinki centre. Parasuicide rates appear to be correlated with population density, since the densely populated areas of Helsinki, Stockholm and Funen evince higher parasuicide rates than the sparsely populated areas of Sør-Trøndelag and Västerbotten.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The frequency of suicide in individual Danish birth cohorts, 1922-1991.

In recent years many suicidologists have based their epidemiological studies on suicide on theories assuming that people born within the same period of time will follow the same suicidal patterns throughout their lives, and that variations in the annual rate of suicide will, therefore, reflect systematic differences between cohorts. Cohort analysis carried out on Danish data showed, however, that although some differences could be found as to the course of events during the life span of the cohorts and also when the material was adjusted for sex, no significant differences could be found between various birth cohorts in the total rates of suicide. The authors argue that the reason for this is that a cohort effect is only one of three dimensions of an analytical tool, namely, Age-Period-Cohort (APC) analysis, and that the balance between the three effects changes over time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Repeated suicidal behavior: a two-year follow-up.

The majority of suicide attempters repeat the suicidal act at least once. The study described here on a Danish sample of suicide attempters shows that 31% had made only one attempt. More repeaters than nonrepeaters were divorced, and more repeaters also lived alone or alone with children. The two groups did not differ significantly as to level of education, but were clearly different with regard to their economic activity. These differences cannot be used as a basis for the prediction of future suicidal behavior, since the factors discussed refer to characteristics that define suicide attempters in general. However, they do point to conditions that might be targets for intervention and aftercare.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Suicide among the Danish elderly: now and in years to come.

The growing number of elderly people is causing concern in most western countries, and the fear is being expressed that the changing age distribution of the population might eventually lead to increasing frequencies of suicide among old people. The authors discuss the developments in the age distribution of the Danish population and forecasts for the frequency of suicide among the elderly. The presumption that rates of suicide among the elderly will go up is questioned by pointing to the fact that the alleged dysfunctions caused by the growth in the population of elderly people may at least to some extent be counterbalanced by the fact that a new "type" of elderly person appears to be entering the stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The role of sex and age in suicidal behavior.

Danish suicide rates for the last 65 years and data from 1976-1979 and 1989-1990, respectively, on attempted suicide in a representative Danish area show that marked changes have taken place in the distribution by sex and age of suicides and suicide attempters. Relatively more women are now taking their own life and, although suicidal risk still increases by age, the high-risk group also has come to include younger age groups. In contrast, relatively more men are attempting suicide, and the suicide attempters are getting older. Thus an equalization of the sexes has taken place, and the effect of age has become less pronounced. Both trends tally with the general trends in society.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Parasuicide in Europe: the WHO/EURO multicentre study on parasuicide. I. Introduction and preliminary analysis for 1989.

The WHO/EURO multicentre study on parasuicide is a new, coordinated, multinational, European study that covers two broad areas of research: monitoring trends in the epidemiology of parasuicide (epidemiological monitoring study); and follow-up investigations of parasuicide populations, with a view to identifying the social and personal characteristics predictive of future suicidal behaviour (repetition prediction project). This article provides background information on the development and organization of the multicentre study, and presents selected findings from the epidemiological monitoring project, based on a preliminary examination of data collected in 15 centres on parasuicides aged 15 years and over treated in health facilities in defined catchment areas during the year 1989. The overall parasuicide incidence varied considerably across the centres, from a high (event) rate of 414 per 100,000 males in Helsinki to a low of 61 among males in Leiden. The highest female event rate was 595 in Pontoise, and the lowest 95 in Guipuzcoa. The mean event rate across all centres was 167 among males and 222 among females. Parasuicide incidence tended to be elevated among 15- to 34-year-olds, with lowest rates among those aged 55 years and over. With one exception (Helsinki), the female parasuicide rate was higher than the male rate, the F:M ratio ranging from 0.71:1 to 2.15:1, with a median of 1.5:1 (events). Short-term repetition rates (as measured by the event:person ratio) differed between centres, from 1.03 to 1.30 (median = 1.12) among males, and from 1.07 to 1.26 (median = 1.13) among females. Although we warn against generalizing from our findings to make statements about differences in parasuicide between countries, we argue that the differences between centres are valid and should be addressed in further research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Suicide and multiple sclerosis: an epidemiological investigation.

In a nationwide investigation the risk of death by suicide for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was assessed using records kept at the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (DMSR) and the Danish National Register of Cause of Death. The investigation covers all MS patients registered with DSMR with an onset of the disease within the period 1953-85, or for whom MS was diagnosed in the same period. Fifty three of the 5525 cases in the onset cohort group committed suicide. Using the figures from the population death statistics by adjustment to number of subjects, duration of observation, sex, age, and calendar year at the start of observation, the expected number of suicides was calculated to be nearly 29. The cumulative lifetime risk of suicide from onset of MS, using an actuarial method of calculation, was 1.95%. The standard mortality ratio (SMR) of suicide in MS was 1.83. It was highest for males and for patients with onset of MS before the age of 30 years and those diagnosed before the age of 40. The SMR was highest within the first five years after diagnosis.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

[Attempted suicides in the county of Funen in 1989/1990].

In 1985, the WHO office of the European region initiated an international research programme concerning attempted suicide: "The WHO/Euro Multicenter Study on Parasuicide". Seventeen centers representing 15 different countries are now participating in the study. The Danish center is sited at the Institute of Clinical Research. Odense University, the catchment area covering the county of Funen, which is presumed to be representative for the whole of Denmark. The project comprises 1) a monitoring study, and 2) a repetition-prediction study. Material and method of the first phase, the monitoring study, is described, and results from the first year of monitoring reported. In the period 1/4-1989 to 31/3-1990, 1,052 parasuicides were registered in the catchment area. Of these, 1,024 were committed by 765 persons being permanent residents of the county. Person-based rates were calculated as 183 and 216 per 100,000 population aged. 15 years and over, for males and females respectively. The sex ratio (m/f) was 0.85; maximum rates were to be found among 35-39 year-old males and among 35-39 and 45-49 year-old women, the average age being 37.7 years for males and 40.8 for females. Compared with data from the other participating centers, the frequency of parasuicide seems very high in Denmark, especially when considering, that the Danish center covers both urban and rural areas. The pooled data from the Multicenter Study indicate a tendency towards greater equality between the sexes, and an increased average age among suicide attempters; this tendency is especially obvious in the Danish material.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Cancer and suicide. Review of the literature].

On the basis of the available literature about cancer and suicide, it is concluded that patients with cancer show a moderately increased risk of committing suicide. This risk is greatest during the first year after diagnosis of the disease. The forms of cancer which most frequently involves suicide are cancer in the gastro-intestinal canal in men and cancer of the breast and genitalia in women. Points of view as to how the risk of suicide in these patients may be reduced are presented and discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Suicide and social integration. A pilot study of the integration levels in Norway and Denmark.

A model for comparison of levels of social integration in each of the Nordic countries was developed from Durkheim's theories and then tested on Norwegian and Danish data to determine whether the difference in the frequency of suicide between Norway and Denmark could be "explained" by a corresponding difference in degree of social integration. The results confirmed Durkheim's theory in that the general level of social integration was found to be considerably lower in Denmark than in Norway. Danish middleaged women, whose rate of suicide is more than three times that of their Norwegian counterparts, were especially poorly integrated by comparison. Furthermore, the level of integration among young Norwegian men was found to be in marked decline and their suicide rate on the increase. The necessity of testing and refining the method is stressed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Trends in attempted suicide in Denmark, 1976-1980.

The object of the present study was to estimate proportions and changes in the incidence of suicide attempts in Denmark. Case sheets concerning all admissions in 1976-1979 (total 6,650) at the Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital (the catchment area of which provides a representative sample of the Danish population), were examined with a view to establishing the reasons for admission. Rates of suicide attempts by age and sex in 1976-1979 were calculated, and estimated rates of the suicide attempts in 1980 added. Trend analysis showed an increase in the mean rates from 1976 to 1979 of 48%, followed by a decrease in 1980 of 13%. There were high increases among the adolescents, but the increase was above all due to the fact that more and more men attempted suicide; the study suggests as a new phenomenon more male than female suicide attempters. We stress the fact that incidences calculated on the basis of hospital admissions only underestimate the real proportions of self-destructive behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Attempted suicide in Denmark. I. Some basic social characteristics.

During a 6 months' period, 99 persons, randomly chosen among patients admitted for attempted suicide to the Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital, were interviewed. This paper, which is the first in a series, deals with the theoretical and methodological background of the survey and the validity of the sample and also with some basic social characteristics of the suicide attempters. The majority of the suicide attempters were found to be single and many of them were living alone or alone with children. The sample could also be characterized by a low level of vocational education and by lack of association with the labour market. The suicide attempters could not, however, be unequivocally described as being in bad financial circumstances, neither were they solely from the lower social classes; the social status profile of the suicide attempters was closer to the status profile of suiciders, with relatively many persons from both upper and lower classes and few from the middle class.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Attempted suicide in Denmark. III. Assessment of repeated suicidal behaviour.

Ninety-nine patients, randomly chosen among hospital admitted suicide attempters, were initially interviewed at the Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital, Denmark, and then followed up for a period of about 3 years. Half of the patients repeated the attempt in the follow-up period, mostly in the first year. Ten patients committed suicide, half of them in the first 3 months after the interview, shortly after discharge from hospital. The majority of the repeaters were living alone, while those that committed suicide were mostly married women aged 50-60 years. Other characteristic features for the repeaters were previous suicidal behaviour and suicidal behaviour among relatives. Many had a psychiatric record and expressed chronic somatic complaints. Around the time of the attempt, many expressed hopelessness, isolation and suicidal ideation. Pierce's Suicide Intent Scale performed poorly due, in particular, to low specificity. Future work will focus on objective risk factors, those indicated here and others, in order to establish an up-to-date background for assessment and management.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Some perspectives on suicidal behaviour.

OBJECTIVE: To try and specify questions of special relevance for suicidological research. METHODS: Discussing the merits of questions pertaining to epidemiology and various theories on suicidal behaviour. RESULTS: Four types of questions are defined: How many persons show suicidal behaviour? Who are they? Why do they do it? and What can we do about it? Answers to the first three questions are required when approaching question four: What can we do about it? CONCLUSION: The complex patterns and backgrounds of suicidal behaviour call for interdisciplinarity and for an increase in both multifactorial and process-related approaches as well as practicable, evidence-based and feasible intervention efforts.

Adult↗