RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Suicides by persons reported as missing prior to death: a retrospective cohort study
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e000607
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000607
VO 2
IS 2
A1 Sveticic, Jerneja
A1 Too, Lay San
A1 De Leo, Diego
YR 2012
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000607.abstract
AB Objective A first study to compare suicides by missing persons with other suicide cases.Design Retrospective cohort study for the period 1994–2007.Geographical location Queensland, Australia.Population 194 suicides by missing persons and 7545 other suicides were identified through the Queensland Suicide Register and the National Coroners Information System.Main outcome measure χ2 statistics and binary logistic regression were used to identify distinct characteristics of suicides by missing persons.Results Compared with other suicide cases, missing persons significantly more often died by motor vehicle exhaust gas toxicity (23.7% vs 16.4%; χ2=7.32, p<0.01), jumping from height (6.7% vs 3.2%; χ2=7.08, p<0.01) or drowning (8.2% vs 1.8%; χ2=39.53, p<0.01), but less frequently by hanging (29.4% vs 39.9%; χ2=8.82, p<0.01). They were most frequently located in natural outdoors locations (58.2% vs 11.1%; χ2=388.25, p<0.01). Persons gone missing were less likely to have lived alone at time of death (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.76), yet more likely to be institutionalised (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.28 to 7.64). They were less likely to have been physically ill (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.95) or have a history of problematic consumptions of alcohol (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.87). In comparison to other suicide cases, missing persons more often communicated their suicidal intent prior to death (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.22).Conclusions Suicides by missing persons show several distinct characteristics in comparisons to other suicides. The findings have implications for development of suicide prevention strategies focusing on early identification and interventions targeting this group. In particular, it may offer assistance to police in designing risk assessment procedures and subsequent investigations of missing persons.