Research on suicide risk and prevention. Covers screening and skills programs, youth emergency visits, and neighborhood risk factors.
A new study by Charles G. Go, Ph.D., and Paula Cupertino, Ph.D. found that adolescents who engage in delinquent behaviors are more likely to contemplate suicide. The study surveyed over 1,200 middle school students in Oakland, California, and found that those who contemplated suicide also reported the most delinquency.
The journal launches a series on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), classifying over 200 therapies into eight categories. ACP-ASIM opposes the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, citing concerns about inadequate care at end-of-life.
The American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine opposes physician-assisted suicide, considering it a threat to the patient-physician relationship. Instead, they suggest improving access to hospice care, palliative care, and pain management.
A qualitative study of 32 people with HIV-1 or AIDS found that disintegration and loss of community are key factors driving desire for euthanasia and assisted suicide. The study suggests that clinicians must consider the complexity of patients' experiences when evaluating requests for physician-assisted suicide.
A new study reveals that writers who took their own lives used more self-referential words and fewer communication words in their poetry. The research analyzed the works of nine deceased poets and compared them to those of nine non-suicidal peers.
A Mayo Clinic study challenges the long-held notion that people with depression are at a higher risk of suicide. The research found a stair-step hierarchy of suicide prevalence based on treatment history, with hospitalized patients being at the highest risk level. This new understanding aims to minimize hysteria surrounding depression ...
A survey conducted by Dr. Maria Silveira found that many patients and families in Oregon are unaware of their basic rights regarding end-of-life care. The results suggest a need for healthcare providers to actively educate patients about their options, including refusal of treatment, withdrawal of care, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.
A Vanderbilt University research team has identified specific acoustic characteristics in the voices of individuals who have attempted or completed suicide. These findings suggest a potential new method for assessing suicidal intent and could be a valuable tool in preventing suicidal deaths.
Researchers have identified two proteins p73 and E2F1 that play important roles in programmed cell death, regulating the death of immune cells T cells. This discovery provides new insights into cancer research and the potential treatment of autoimmune diseases.
A study of 3,299 US oncologists found that 22% supported physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients with unremitting pain, while 6.5% supported euthanasia. Hydrochlorothiazide was shown to preserve bone density at the hip and spine in healthy older adults.
A survey of 3,299 oncologists found a significant decline in support for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, with those trained in end-of-life care less likely to support these options. The study emphasizes the need for education on providing high-quality palliative care to dying patients.
Researchers found a significant association between the L/S and S/S alleles of the serotonin transporter gene promoter region and suicidal tendencies in individuals with unknown psychiatric diagnosis. The study suggests that genetic factors, such as the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, may contribute to autoaggressive behavior and violent suicide.
Yale University has received a $3 million grant from the Personality Disorder Research Foundation to study borderline personality disorder. The three-year grant aims to better understand the disorder, its causes, and effective treatments for patients.
Studies found that individuals with major depressive episodes and borderline personality disorder are at greater risk of suicide, while those with high serum cholesterol experience a doubled risk of violent suicide. Comprehensive mental health care is essential to address these co-existing illnesses.
A consensus panel convened by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Bioethics discusses guidelines, treatments, and legal responses to assisted suicide. The panel aims to establish safeguards that make physician-assisted suicide voluntary, regulated, and an option of last resort.
A distinguished panel of bioethicists published papers on physician-assisted suicide in Annals of Internal Medicine, discussing guidelines, safeguards, and expert opinions on the clinical, moral, and ethical issues involved. The findings highlight the need for thoughtful direction and common ground among diverse views.
Research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that divorced and separated men are more than twice as likely to commit suicide as married or partnered men. The study analyzed data from a long-term US research project, which included around 472,000 men and women.
A large US-based study found a distinct association between low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and increased suicide risk among electric utility workers. The study, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, suggests that EMF exposure may contribute to depression and suicidal behavior, particularly among youn...
Research suggests that prolonged exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields may increase the risk of suicide. The study found a significant association between electromagnetic field exposure and death from suicide, particularly among those with high levels of exposure.
A nationwide study found that 87% of high school counselors believe it's their job to recognize teens at risk for suicide, but only 38% feel they can identify warning signs. The study recommends more thorough training and crisis-intervention teams.
Actuaries forecast a low probability of a national health plan being implemented by 2010 and 2050. The US suicide rate is expected to rise, with Americans born in 1997 predicted to live beyond age 80 by 2050.
University of Rochester scientists use the herpes virus to modify brain cells, making them more resistant to death after a stroke. The study aims to provide a new way to save patients from years of disability caused by strokes.
The conference focuses on lithium's applications in reducing suicidal acts in people with bipolar disorder, boosting the immune system, slowing down cancer cell growth, and interfering with viral infections. More than 300 experts will attend to discuss these topics and share latest research.
A review of 57 studies found depression to be linked to increased risk of death from heart disease and other factors, with suicide accounting for less than 1% of deaths among depressed patients
A study of 100 patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) found that 56% would consider assisted suicide, with fears of future suffering a primary motivator. Patient attitudes were not influenced by disease duration, depression, or pain levels.
A study of 514 Ohio residents found that 54% would support assisted suicide if doctors took an active role, such as giving a lethal injection. This result contradicts the leaders of the assisted suicide movement who advocate for less physician involvement and more patient control.
A third of patients with major depression remain undetected by primary care physicians for up to a year, leading to grave consequences. Patients who went undiagnosed reported nine times more role limitation from emotional problems than community residents without depression.
Researchers have confirmed a link between a specific gene mutation and increased risk of depression, hospitalization, and suicidal attempts. The discovery aims to improve psychiatric diagnoses and treatments by enabling more precise identification of genetic predispositions.
A new program using free phone counseling has shown to improve social contact and reduce symptoms of depression in seniors identified as suicide risks. After four months, clients reported significant improvements in daily living challenges and life situations.
A study examining brain tissue from suicides and controls reveals higher serotonin receptor binding in certain areas, particularly those associated with violent deaths. The findings suggest a potential link between altered serotonin function and suicidal behavior.
A Purdue University study found that 10% of respondents would end their lives if faced with a terminal illness or low quality of life, while 1/3 preferred letting someone else decide. The study's findings suggest a strong need to survive and inhibitions against self-destruction among older adults.
A new study by Victor Cicirelli asks older adults about their end-of-life options and finds that a majority would prefer to live, but some may choose assisted suicide under low-quality conditions. The study also reveals that social support and well-being are not key factors in these decisions.
A study found that frail elderly patients are less likely to favor physician-assisted suicide, while their relatives are more supportive. Relatives often struggle to agree on the patient's wishes, highlighting the need for advanced directives and living wills.
A recent study by University at Buffalo epidemiologists has found that police officers are eight times more likely to die by their own hand than by homicide. The study also revealed that police officers take their own lives at a much higher rate than other municipal employees.
A study by University at Buffalo psychiatrist Miriam Shuchman found that 93% of youthful suicide attempters received some type of psychosocial assessment, compared to 49% of young victims of violence. The study also showed significant disparities in counseling services for injured girls and boys.
Researchers suggest that cells are programmed to self-destruct when isolated from their neighbors, potentially providing a key to fighting cancer and autoimmune diseases. This discovery could lead to new treatments by understanding how to disrupt the cell's suicidal tendencies.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have discovered an enzyme called MACH that triggers cellular self-destruction in autoimmune disorders like juvenile diabetes and multiple sclerosis. This finding may lead to treatments that selectively block abnormal cell death signals while allowing normal cell suicide processes to continue.
A study at Duke University Medical Center found that women with a history of sexual assault are six times more likely to attempt suicide. The researchers suggest that healthcare providers raise awareness of how sexual assault influences the risk of attempted suicide, especially for those who never seek mental health care.