[Evaluation of the risk factors of suicide in patients treated for mental disorders. Review of the literature from 1978 to 1988].

Research on suicide risk factors among psychiatric patients has developed considerably over the last 10 years. The methodological problems are numerous. Tentatives of global prediction have been unsuccessful in describing one complete and specific picture of the mentally ill suicide, whereas lawsuits against psychiatrists are frequent after patients' suicides. Through the analysis of 37 publications from 1978 to 1988 the authors review the main suicide risk factors identified among treated psychiatric patients.