The epidemiology of non-suicidal self-injury: lifetime prevalence, sociodemographic and clinical correlates, and treatment use in a nationally representative sample of adults in England

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Richard T. Liu

Abstract Background Although the clinical importance of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has received increasing recognition, relatively little is known about its epidemiology. The objective of this study was to estimate the lifetime prevalence of NSSI in adults and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric disorders, and lifetime treatment for NSSI. Methods A nationally representative face-to-face survey was conducted with 7192 adults aged ≥18 years in England. Respondents were interviewed about engagement in NSSI, psychiatric illness, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and treatment history for this behavior. Results The estimated lifetime prevalence rate of NSSI was 4.86%. Younger age, growing up without biological parents in the household, being unmarried, and impoverished backgrounds were associated with NSSI. The majority of respondents with lifetime NSSI (63.82%) had at least one current psychiatric disorder. Most psychiatric conditions were associated with greater odds of lifetime NSSI in multivariate models. NSSI was strongly associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, respectively, even after accounting for psychiatric disorders and sociodemographic covariates. A substantial proportion of respondents with NSSI history (30.92%) have engaged in medically severe self-harm, as indexed by requiring medical attention for this behavior. The majority of respondents with NSSI (56.20%) had not received psychiatric care for this behavior. Conclusions NSSI is prevalent in the general population and associated with considerable psychiatric comorbidity. A high rate of unmet treatment needs is evident among those with this behavior. Those at the greatest lifetime risk for NSSI may also be particularly limited in their resources to cope with this behavior.

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elena Medina-Mora ◽  
Guilherme Borges ◽  
Corina Benjet ◽  
Carmen Lara ◽  
Patricia Berglund

BackgroundNo national data on lifetime prevalence and risk factors for DSM–IV psychiatric disorders are available in Mexico.AimsTo present data on lifetime prevalence and projected lifetime risk, age at onset and demographic correlates of DSM–IV psychiatric disorders assessed in the Mexican National Comorbidity Survey.MethodThe survey was based on a multistage area probability sample of non-institutionalised people aged 18–65 years in urban Mexico. The World Mental Health Survey version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was administered by lay interviewers.ResultsOf those surveyed, 26.1% had experienced at least one psychiatric disorder in their life and 36.4% of Mexicans will eventually experience one of these disorders. Half of the population who present with a psychiatric disorder do so by the age of 21 and younger cohorts are at greater risk for most disorders.ConclusionsOur results suggest an urgent need to re-evaluate the resources allocated for the detection and treatment of psychiatric illnesses in Mexico.


Author(s):  
Rosario Valdez-Santiago ◽  
Aremis Villalobos ◽  
Luz Arenas-Monreal ◽  
Catalina González-Forteza ◽  
Alicia Edith Hermosillo-de-la-Torre ◽  
...  

Objective. To compare the occurrence of suicide attempts across nationally representative samples of the Mexican adolescent population over the past 12 years, and to analyze its association with sociodemographic, lifestyle and mental-health indicators. Methodology. Data were drawn from the 2006, 2012 and 2018 National Health and Nutrition Surveys (n = 25,056; 21,509; and 17,925 adolescents, respectively). Estimates were based on standardized measurements. Results. The estimated lifetime prevalence rates of suicide attempts were 1.1% in 2006, 2.7% in 2012, and 3.9% in 2018, indicating a 3.4-fold increase. Across the three survey periods, women yielded rates nearly three times higher than men. Lifetime prevalence grew the most among adolescents aged 13–15 years. Compared to the other respondents, the odds of lifetime suicide attempts proved seven times as high for those who had been sexually abused during their childhood, five times as high for those who had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder, three times as high for those who had suffered physical aggression and twice as high for those who had smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lifetimes and those who consumed alcohol. Conclusion: The sharp increase in suicide attempts in Mexico calls for an urgent public-health response via universal and targeted interventions supported by national policy and sustained federal funding.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Chan ◽  
Simon Denny ◽  
Theresa Fleming ◽  
Sarah Fortune ◽  
Roshini Peiris-John ◽  
...  

Purpose: To examine whether there is an association between students self-reported suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury and exposure to suicidal behaviour among friends, family members or within school communities. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative health and well-being survey of 8500 New Zealand high school students conducted from March through November 2012. Students’ self-reported suicide attempts and repeated non-suicidal self-injury was examined in relation to student reports of self-harming behaviour among friends and family as well as data from school administrators of completed suicides within the school community. Results: Almost 1 in 20 (4.5%) students reported a suicide attempt in the last 12 months and 7.9% reported repeated non-suicidal self-injury in the last 12 months. The risk of both suicide attempts and repeated non-suicidal self-injury was highest among females, students from homes with economic deprivation and among students reporting an episode of low mood in the previous 12 months. Students exposed to suicide attempts or completed suicide among friends and/or family members were at increased risk of reporting attempted suicide and repeated non-suicidal self-injury in the last year. There was no association between completed suicide in school community and students self-reported suicide attempts or repeated non-suicidal self-injury. Conclusions: Low mood and exposure to suicide attempts of friends and family members are associated with suicide attempts and repeated non-suicidal self-injury in New Zealand high school students. This research highlights importance of supporting adolescents with low mood and exposed to suicide of friends and family.


1978 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Roller ◽  
Walter Slaghuis

In urban Hobart 1968-1972 there was a steep climb in the self-poisoning rates, reaching a peak in 1972. This rise was largely attributed to an increase in self-poisonings by young males and an overall increase by females. During this period psychotropic overdoses commenced. In 1973-1977 self-poisoning and self-injury rates were calculated. Contrary to the previous five year experience rates either declined during 1973 to 1977 or fell from a previous high rate to level off at a lower rate. These changes have particularly affected both sexes under 35 years. The abuse of psychotropic substances continued to soar. A possible explanation of these changes may lie in local factors. The results are contrasted with the most recent literature.


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin F. Ward-Ciesielski ◽  
Julie A. Schumacher ◽  
Courtney L. Bagge

Abstract. Background: Although nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is known to be associated with increased risk of death by suicide and suicide attempts, minimal research has focused on comparing recent suicide attempters with and without NSSI on suicide attempt characteristics (frequency and severity of suicide attempts). Understanding how NSSI impacts suicide attempt characteristics can help providers to enhance their assessment and treatment strategies so as to prevent future suicidal behaviors. Aims: The present study investigated the extent to which a history of NSSI was related to the frequency and severity of suicide attempts in a sample of recent suicide attempters. Method: Participants included 171 adult patients who presented to the hospital within 24 hr of a suicide attempt. Information about their suicide attempts and NSSI was gathered using self-report questionnaires and interviews. Results: Suicide attempters with a history of NSSI reported significantly more suicide attempts and more suicide attempts requiring medical attention, after controlling for important clinical covariates. Conclusion: NSSI was uniquely associated with suicide attempt characteristics, highlighting the importance of NSSI in suicide assessment, prevention, and treatment efforts.


1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. M. Baker ◽  
Lenore J. Launer ◽  
Monique M. R. Breteler ◽  
Albert Hofman

Background: Ommoord District residents of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, age 55 and older, completed a two-stage interview to assess the risk factors for chronic disease and disability. Methods: In the in-home Stage I interview (N = 7,983), demographic data and medical history were collected by a trained lay interviewer. During Stage II, a physician interview and examination were conducted at the study center. Subjects (N = 7,129) were asked about their history of psychiatric disorders and 6,596 responded. Results: The lifetime prevalence of self-reported psychiatric disorders was 5.44% for unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders combined, 0.27% for psychotic disorders, 0.08% for alcoholism, 0.05% for drug addiction, and 3.71% for other diagnoses. Residents reporting a psychiatric diagnosis of depression were more likely to be currently taking an antidepressant medication (p < .001) and an antipsychotic medication (p < .0001), to be in current outpatient treatment (p < .001), to have been hospitalized for psychiatric illness (p < .001), to have undergone electroconvulsive treatments (p < .001), and to report a history of having made suicide attempts (p < .001). Conclusion: The self-reported lifetime prevalence of affective disorders was similar to the rates found in the Stirling County Study (Canada) and the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey (United States). The lower prevalence rates of the other psychiatric disorders may reflect underreporting or an age cohort effect, or may be due to the nonresponse bias.


Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 318-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Stanley ◽  
Glenn W. Currier ◽  
Megan Chesin ◽  
Sadia Chaudhury ◽  
Shari Jager-Hyman ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: External causes of injury codes (E-codes) are used in administrative and claims databases for billing and often employed to estimate the number of self-injury visits to emergency departments (EDs). Aims: This study assessed the accuracy of E-codes using standardized, independently administered research assessments at the time of ED visits. Method: We recruited 254 patients at three psychiatric emergency departments in the United States between 2007 and 2011, who completed research assessments after presenting for suicide-related concerns and were classified as suicide attempters (50.4%, n = 128), nonsuicidal self-injurers (11.8%, n = 30), psychiatric controls (29.9%, n = 76), or interrupted suicide attempters (7.8%, n = 20). These classifications were compared with their E-code classifications. Results: Of the participants, 21.7% (55/254) received an E-code. In all, 36.7% of research-classified suicide attempters and 26.7% of research-classified nonsuicidal self-injurers received self-inflicted injury E-codes. Those who did not receive an E-code but should have based on the research assessments had more severe psychopathology, more Axis I diagnoses, more suicide attempts, and greater suicidal ideation. Limitations: The sample came from three large academic medical centers and these findings may not be generalizable to all EDs. Conclusion: The frequency of ED visits for self-inflicted injury is much greater than current figures indicate and should be increased threefold.


Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin S. Kuehn ◽  
Annelise Wagner ◽  
Jennifer Velloza

Abstract. Background: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among US adolescents aged 12–19 years. Researchers would benefit from a better understanding of the direct effects of bullying and e-bullying on adolescent suicide to inform intervention work. Aims: To explore the direct and indirect effects of bullying and e-bullying on adolescent suicide attempts (SAs) and to estimate the magnitude of these effects controlling for significant covariates. Method: This study uses data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS), a nationally representative sample of US high school youth. We quantified the association between bullying and the likelihood of SA, after adjusting for covariates (i.e., sexual orientation, obesity, sleep, etc.) identified with the PC algorithm. Results: Bullying and e-bullying were significantly associated with SA in logistic regression analyses. Bullying had an estimated average causal effect (ACE) of 2.46%, while e-bullying had an ACE of 4.16%. Limitations: Data are cross-sectional and temporal precedence is not known. Conclusion: These findings highlight the strong association between bullying, e-bullying, and SA.


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