Primary and secondary complex suicide. A 30-year retrospective suicide

Suicides are divided into simple and complex suicides. Complex suicides are further classified as primary (planned) and secondary (unplanned) complex suicides. The term "complex suicide" refers to a suicide in which more than one suicide method is applied. In primary complex suicide several methods of suicide are employed simultaneously (two and more). In secondary complex suicide additional suicide methods are involved after the initial chosen suicide method failed. Authors present a 30-year retrospective study of complex suicides (1989-2009). Of the 2753 finished suicides in the given time period, 66 complex suicides were identified: 15 primary complex suicides and 51 secondary complex suicides. Complex suicides were analyzed in terms of gender, age, methods of suicide, locality and time of suicide, presence of alcohol and of the presence of suicide note and were compared with remaining 2687 cases of simple suicides from the same time period.

Background: suicide - complex suicide - primary complex suicide - secondary complex suicide - methods of suicides.