[Trends in suicidal behaviour in Dutch general practice, 1983-2013].

OBJECTIVE

We investigated trends in suicidal behaviour as reported by Dutch general practices from 1983 to 2013. Also, we analysed the relationship with patient characteristics and with the financial crisis of 2008.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHOD

We estimated age-adjusted and gender-specific trends in suicides (342) and attempted suicides (1614), as registered in 1983-2013 under ICPC code P77 by 40 Dutch general practices participating in the NIVEL Primary Care Database sentinel station. Secondary outcomes, on the basis of supplementary questions in the GP Information System (Huisartsen Informatie Systeem), were the relationship between suicidal behaviour, earlier treatments and patient characteristics. Also, we analysed separate frequencies for the periods 1983-2007 and 2008-2013.

RESULTS

Join-point analyses revealed a significant rise in male suicides from 2008 (b = 0.32, SE = 0.1, p = 0.008), and an increase in male suicide attempts since 2009 (b = 0.19, SE = 0.04, p < 0.001). Female suicidal behaviour showed a steady decrease in 1989-2013: b = -0.03, SE = 0.007, p < 0.0001 for female suicide, b = -0.02, SE = 0.002, p < 0.001 for female attempts. Almost half of the suicidal patients had visited their GP one month before the event. In 31% of these patients, the GP had recognized suicidal behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

Since 2008, there was a rise in the male suicide rate while female suicide behaviour has continued to decline. Training in the early recognition of suicide ideation in depressive patients might improve suicide prevention in primary care.