Suicide in People Aged 45-60: A Case-control Psychological Autopsy Study

Psychological Autopsy Study: A Case-control Research Into 45-60 Year Old Suicide Victims in Flanders, Belgium

The purpose of this study is to learn about the possible causes of the negative trend in suicide rates in both males and females aged 45-60 in Flanders, Belgium. This will be carried out using a psychological autopsy study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Suicide

Detailed Description

A case-control psychological autopsy study will be carried out to identify what risk factors are related to suicide in people aged 45-60. People close to the person who died by suicide (next of kin or close friends) will be interviewed. To increase the validity of our findings, a control group will also be interviewed. The control group will be someone who is very close to someone with mental health problems.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 97

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
    • Unit for Suicide Research, Ghent University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

community sample

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• close to suicide victim or person who has mental health problems
• suicide victim or person with mental health problems was/is 45-60 years old
• the suicide happened more than 3 months and less than 5 years ago

Exclusion Criteria:

• not Dutch-speaking

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Informants of suicide victims; Partners, children, parents, siblings, other relatives, peers or other informants of adults (aged 45-60 years) who received a definitive verdict of suicide in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium (Flanders). The suicide should have taken place more than 3 months ago and less than 5 years ago.
Control group; Informants i.e., partners, children, parents, siblings, other relatives, peers or other informants of adults (aged 45-60 years) who have mental health problems.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Medical history	Baseline
Sociodemographics	Baseline
History of suicidal behaviour (presuicidal communication, method, intent)	baseline
Exposure to suicidal behavior	baseline
Living situation	Baseline
Work situation	Baseline
Religion	Baseline
Interpersonal relationships (intimate, children, social contact, family)	Baseline
Financial problems	Baseline
Legal problems	Baseline
Life events	Baseline
Psychiatric history	Baseline
Psychiatric disorders	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Ghent
• Collaborators: Flemish Ministry of Welfare, Public Health, and Family, Belgium
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kees van Heeringen, MD, PhD, University Ghent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 28, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 9, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 9, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 27, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 8, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): October 11, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 6, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 3, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: prevention; psychological autopsy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Self-Injurious Behavior; Suicide
• Other Study ID Numbers: B670201836751

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No