Overall, the methods of suicide in the OCD cohort were similar to those in the general population, with self-poisoning—a method sometimes classified as non-violent33—being the preferred method in both groups. However, the individuals in the OCD cohort, especially the men, used this method more frequently than the population controls. This is in line with a previous investigation looking at 351 consecutive suicides in an urban community34 where anxiety disorders were also associated with non-violent methods, including overdose. As approximately 85% of the patients with OCD in the Swedish national registers are on psychotropic medication,35 we speculate that the more frequent use of self-poisoning in the OCD cohort may be related to the ready availability of psychotropic medication in this group. Patients with OCD were less likely to use violent methods of suicide, which may be consistent with the particular personality profile of this patient group, typically described as ‘harm avoidant’.36
