Ecological variation of three types of suicide.

The hypothesis has been tested that three types of suicide ('old and handicapped', 'sociopathic' and 'depressed') will vary in prevalence across ecologically defined urban areas. The hypothesis is supported with respect to 'old and handicapped' suicide, which predominated in middle-class areas with established residents of middle-class status; and with respect to 'sociopathic' suicide, which predominates in central areas with high rates of social pathology of all kinds, and poor housing conditions.