An Epidemiological Survey of Parasuicide (‘Attempted Suicide’) in General Practice

Hospital-treated parasuicides∗ have been studied intensively in recent years, and on the basis of these hospital studies aetiological theory is advancing and expensive endeavours in prevention are being put into operation. Yet hospital studies can be misleading because cases selected for admission may not be representative. This prospective survey, based on general practice in Edinburgh, was carried out to study the prevalences of parasuicide uncontaminated by factors influencing hospital referral.