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Age, sex and suicide rates within birth cohorts in England and Wales

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Summary

The relationships between suicide rates at different ages within male and female birth cohorts in England and Wales are examined. There is a sex difference in the pattern of mean correlations of within-cohort rates for various time intervals, with females showing a significant negative correlation between rates separated by 10–15 years. The full correlation matrix of age-specific rates indicates that this negative mean interval correlation is due to negative correlations between rates at age 35–44 years and rates at other ages. This suggests that the acceleration-deceleration model of suicide may be applicable to female rates, with a reduction in suicide associated with pregnancy and motherhood and a rebound increase in rates thereafter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Unit for Psychiatric Research and Development, Lewisham Hospital, Lewisham High Street, SE13, London, UK

    James Lindesay M.A., MRC Psych.

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  1. James Lindesay M.A., MRC Psych.
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Lindesay, J. Age, sex and suicide rates within birth cohorts in England and Wales. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 24, 249–252 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01788966

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01788966

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