Suicide attempts in multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler. 2011 Oct;17(10):1265-8. doi: 10.1177/1352458511401942. Epub 2011 Apr 20.

Abstract

The purposes of the study were (1) to estimate the risk of suicide attempts in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Denmark and compare the risk to the background population in the County of Funen, Denmark; (2) to estimate the risk of suicide attempts in MS patients receiving immunomodulating therapy compared with untreated patients. The Danish MS Registry, the Danish MS Treatment Registry and the Suicide Attempt Registry are linked and merged together using a person identification number given to all persons residing in Denmark. Among 404 MS patients, 15 patients had attempted suicide, although no increased risk for suicide attempts was found in MS patients. No difference in number of suicide attempts in treated and untreated patients was found.

MeSH terms

  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / epidemiology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / psychology
  • Registries
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interferon-beta