A study of suicide and attempted suicide by self-immolation in an Irish psychiatric population: an increasing problem

AbstractSuicide and attempted suicide are common phenomena amongst psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. Self-immolation or self-incineration are dramatic attention seeking events which may have religious or political significance. Deliberate self burning which incorporate these may also encapsulate elements of attention seeking, parasuicidal and suicide behaviour. The present study shows that psychiatric inpatients who choose to injure themselves by self burning are a seriously disturbed group whose intention is largely suicidal and who have a previous history of attempted suicide. They tend to be female, single, suffering from either schizophrenia or personality disorder in contrast to the majority of people who take their lives by other methods who tend to suffer from depression, alcoholism or both.

Download Full-text

Attempted Suicide by Self-Immolation is a Powerful Predictive Variable for Survival of Burn Injuries

Journal of Burn Care & Research ◽

10.1097/bcr.0b013e3182479b28 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 642-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Natasha A. Forster ◽

David Garcia Nuñez ◽

Matthias Zingg ◽

Sarah R. Haile ◽

Walter Künzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attempted Suicide ◽

Burn Injuries ◽

Predictive Variable ◽

Self Immolation

Download Full-text

Analysis of Deliberate Self-Wrist-Cutting Episodes Presenting to the Emergency Department

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000361 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 155-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jin Kim ◽

Han Joon Kim ◽

Soo Hyun Kim ◽

Sang Hoon Oh ◽

Kyu Nam Park

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Medical Records ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Psychiatric Interview ◽

Clinical Variables ◽

Completed Suicide ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Group A ◽

Efficacy Of Treatment

Abstract. Background: Previous suicide attempts increase the risk of a completed suicide. However, a large proportion of patients with deliberate self-wrist cutting (DSWC) are often discharged without undergoing a psychiatric interview. Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate the differences in the characteristics and outcomes of patients with DSWC and those with deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) episodes. The results of this study may be used to improve the efficacy of treatment for DSWC patients. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 598 patients with DSWC and DSP who were treated at the emergency department of Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital between 2008 and 2013. We assessed sociodemographic information, clinical variables, the reasons for the suicide attempts, and the severity of the suicide attempts. Results: A total of 141 (23.6%) patients were included in the DSWC group, and 457 (76.4%) were included in the DSP group. A significantly greater number of patients in the DSWC group had previously attempted suicide (p = .014). A total of 63 patients (44.7%) in the DSWC group and 409 patients (89.5%) in the DSP group underwent psychiatric interviews. Conclusion: More DSWC patients had previously attempted suicide, but fewer of them underwent psychiatric interviews compared with the DSP patients.

Download Full-text

Emergency Department Admission and Mortality Rate for Suicidal Behavior

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000282 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 406-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Raimondo Maria Pavarin ◽

Angelo Fioritti ◽

Francesca Fontana ◽

Silvia Marani ◽

Alessandra Paparelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Cox Model ◽

Emergency Department Admission ◽

Completed Suicide

Background: The international literature reports that for every completed suicide there are between 8 and 22 visits to an Emergency Department (ED) for attempted suicide/suicidal behavior. Aims: To describe the characteristics of admission to emergency departments (EDs) for suicide-related presenting complaints in the metropolitan area of Bologna; to estimate the risk for all-cause mortality and for suicide; to identify the profiles of subjects most at risk. Method: Follow-up of patients admitted to the EDs of the metropolitan area of Bologna between January 2004 and December 2010 for attempted suicide. A Cox model was used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic variables and the general mortality risk. Results: We identified 505 cases of attempted suicide, which were more frequent for female subjects, over the weekend, and at night (8:00 p.m./8:00 a.m.). The most used suicide methods were psychotropic drugs, sharp or blunt objects, and jumping from high places. In this cohort, 3.6% of subjects completed suicide (4.5% of males vs. 2.9% of females), 2.3% within 1 year of the start of follow-up. The most common causes of death were drug use and hanging. In the multivariate analysis, those who used illicit drugs 24 hr prior to admission to the ED (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.23–9.73) and patients who refused the treatment (HR = 6.74, 95% CI = 1.86–24.40) showed an increased mortality risk for suicide. Conclusion: Deliberate self-harm patients presenting to the ED who refuse treatment represent a specific target group for setting up dedicated prevention schemes.

Download Full-text

Epidemiological Trends in Attempted Suicide in Adolescents and Young Adults Between 1996 and 2004

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910.30.3.115 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 115-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Stephanie De Munck ◽

Gwendolyn Portzky ◽

Kees Van Heeringen

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

University Hospital ◽

International Studies ◽

Suicide Attempters ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Epidemiological Trends

Background: Notwithstanding the epidemiological studies indicating an increased risk of attempted suicide among adolescents and young adults, there is a scarcity of international studies that examine long-term epidemiological trends in rates and characteristics of this vulnerable group. Aims: This article describes the results of a 9-year monitoring study of suicide attempts in adolescents and young adults referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Gent University Hospital (Belgium). Methods: Between January 1996 and December 2004, trends, sociodemographic, and methodrelated characteristics of suicide attempts were assessed by a psychiatrist on data sheets. Results: Attempted suicide rates declined from 1996 to 2001 and then rose until 2004, but did not exceed previous rates. During the 9 years of monitoring, there was a preponderance of female suicide attempters, except for 1997. Rates of attempts and of fatal suicide were negatively correlated. Significantly more males than females deliberately injured themselves. Younger attempters, especially females, significantly more often poisoned themselves with analgesics. In nearly one in five attempts, alcohol was used in combination with other methods, and alcohol intake was more commonly observed in older suicide attempters. Nearly half of the adolescents were identified as repeaters. Conclusions: The results of this study warrant further monitoring of trends and characteristics of young suicide attempters.

Download Full-text

Letter to the Editor: On Suicide and Attempted Suicide During Pregnancy

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.20.1.22 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 22-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G Vaiva ◽

E Teissier ◽

O Cottencin ◽

P Thomas ◽

M Goudemand

Keyword(s):

Attempted Suicide ◽

Letter To The Editor

Download Full-text

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt Survivors

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000413 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 73-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Lindsay L. Sheehan ◽

Patrick W. Corrigan ◽

Maya A. Al-Khouja ◽

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempt ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Public Stigma ◽

Suicide Method ◽

Community Based ◽

Stakeholder Perspectives ◽

Personal Experiences ◽

Prejudice And Discrimination

Abstract. Background: Past scholarly efforts to describe and measure the stigma surrounding suicide have largely viewed suicide stigma from the perspective of the general public. Aims: In the spirit of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the current study brought together a diverse stakeholder team to qualitatively investigate the suicide stigma as experienced by those most intimately affected by suicide. Method: Seven focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with suicide attempt survivors, family members of those who died by suicide, and suicide loss therapists. Results: Themes were derived for stereotypes (n = 30), prejudice (n = 3), and discrimination (n = 4). People who attempted suicide were seen as attention-seeking, selfish, incompetent, emotionally weak, and immoral. Participants described personal experiences of prejudice and discrimination, including those with health professionals. Conclusion: Participants experienced public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Analyses reveal that the stigma of suicide shares similarities with stereotypes of mental illness, but also includes some important differences. Attempt survivors may be subject to double stigma, which impedes recovery and access to care.

Download Full-text