Drs. de Similien and Okorafor are PGY-4 Residents in Psychiatry, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC.
Disclosures The authors report no financial relationships with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.
SBC has characteristics similar to other means of suicide; it is more prevalent among men with psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, substance use disorders,9 poor stress response skills, recent stressors, and adverse life events,10 and history of suicide attempts.
Psychosocial characteristics include:
mean age 31.8 years1
male sex (98%)
white (52%)
approximately 40% involve some form of relationship conflict.6
In psychological autopsy studies, an estimated 70.5% of those involved in a SBC incident had ≥1 stressful life events,1 including terminal illness, loss of a job, a lawsuit, or domestic issues. However, the reason is unknown for the remaining 28% cases.2 Thirty-five percent of those involved in SBC incidents were married, 13.5% divorced, and 46.7% single.1 Seventy-seven percent had low socioeconomic status,11 with 49.3% unemployed at the time of the SBC incident.1
Pathological characteristics of SBC and other suicide means are similar. Among SBC cases, 39% had previously attempted suicide6; 56% have a psychiatric or chronic medical comorbidity. Alcohol and drug abuse were reported among 56% of individuals, and 66% had a criminal history.6 Additionally, comorbid psychiatric disorders, especially those of the impulsive and emotionally unstable types, such as borderline and antisocial personality disorder, have been found to play a major role in SBC incidents.12
