To examine associations between gender and diagnostic profiles of life events among patients admitted to a general hospital after attempted suicide.

Participants (n = 86) were patients consecutively admitted to a general hospital emergency care unit over the inclusion period of 26 months after an act of attempted suicide. They were interviewed within 2 days using the EPSIS protocol, the MINI and SCID-II interviews and a range of scales measuring life events (Brugha's scale) and alcohol abuse (AUDIT). Logistic regression was used in data analyses. Results are given in Odds Ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals.

Men reported more unemployment, [23.5(2.8-197.6)], loss of work, [4.7(1.2-17.3)], serious economic problems, [2.7(1.1-6.8)], problems with police and presented in court, [8.6(2.2-30.3)]. Major depression (MD) was associated with the separation from spouse due to interpersonal conflict [3.6(1.1-11.7)], however, when adjusted for gender, it tended towards significance only in men and was non-significant for women. Comorbidity of MD with anxiety disorders, alcohol abuse or borderline personality disorders were not associated with any specific life event.

Irrespective of diagnostic profile, life events related to legal problems and loss of job/work and marriage were significant for men who were admitted to a general hospital after a suicide attempt, irrespective of diagnostic profile.