An Exploration of Differences Between Deliberate Self-Harm with and without Suicidal Intent Amongst a Clinical Sample of Young People in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study examined differences between young people with mental illness who engage in deliberate self-harm with and without suicidal intent, as well as socio-demographic and clinical factors that are related to the increased likelihood of suicide attempt amongst self-harming young people. A total of 235 outpatients with mental illness who had engaged in deliberate self-harm were recruited from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Singapore. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire which collected information on their socio-demographic background, self-harm history, diagnosis, depressive symptoms and childhood trauma. A total of 31.1% had reported a history of attempted suicide. Multiple logistic regression conducted found that engaging in self-harm ideation between 1 and 7 days (OR = 4.3, p = 0.30), and more than 1 week (OR = 10.5, p < 0.001) (versus no engagement in any self-harm ideation at all), were significantly associated with greater likelihood of attempted suicide. This study reports a relatively high prevalence rate of reported suicide attempts amongst young people with mental illness who engaged in self-harm. Identifying self-harm behaviors and treating it early could be the first step in managing potential suicidal behaviors among those who engage in self-harm.

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Management in hospital after attempted suicide

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin ◽

10.1136/dtb.17.20.78 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 78-80

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Hospital Doctor ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Self Harm

The patient who is in hospital after an episode of deliberate self-harm is at risk both of non-fatal repetition (20% in the following year) and of successful suicide later (1–2% in the next year).8 9 Most patients admitted to hospital after self-poisoning are under 25, living unharmoniously with others and nearly all show personality difficulties rather than mental illness.10 11 This article attempts to guide the hospital doctor in the assessment and treatment of such patients.

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The Prevalence of 22 Self-Harm Behaviors in a Consecutive Sample of Obstetrics/Gynecology Outpatients

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine ◽

10.2190/pm.43.2.f ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 179-187

Author(s):

Randy A. Sansone ◽

Joy Chang ◽

Bryan Jewell

Keyword(s):

Attempted Suicide ◽

Survey Methodology ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Self Report ◽

Lifetime Prevalence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Present Sample ◽

Consecutive Sample ◽

Self Harm ◽

Clinical Populations

Background: While a number of previous studies have examined limited forms of self-harm behavior, such as suicidal ideation/attempts/completions, or one specific behavior such as cutting or burning oneself (most frequently in psychiatric populations), few studies have examined the lifetime prevalence of multiple self-harm behaviors in a single non-psychiatric population and no study has done so among obstetrics/gynecology outpatients. Method: Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of 370 women presenting to an obstetrics/gynecology outpatient clinic and a self-report survey methodology, we examined the lifetime prevalence of 22 self-harm behaviors. Results: In this sample, the most frequently self-reported self-harm behaviors were: engaged in emotionally abusive relationships (24.7%), abused alcohol (22.0%), been promiscuous (21.0%), attempted suicide (18.3%), and tortured self with self-defeating thoughts (16.7%). Four of these preceding behaviors were also the most commonly reported 5 of 22 behaviors in 3 previous studies of self-harm behavior in different clinical populations. Conclusions: It appears that the most frequently reported lifetime self-harm behaviors are relatively common across various non-psychiatric clinical populations of adults, albeit in different proportions, with some exceptions (i.e., suicide attempts in the present sample).

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Adolescents’ self-mutilation - Relationship with dependent behaviour

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024/1421-0185.62.4.241 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 241-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. Bolognini ◽

B. Plancherel ◽

J. Laget ◽

P. Stéphan ◽

O. Halfon

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempts ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Control Sample ◽

Clinical Population ◽

Control Group ◽

Clinical Group ◽

Self Mutilation ◽

Self Harm ◽

Partial Overlap ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this study, which was carried out in the French-speacking part of Switzerland, was to examine the relationship between suicide attempts and self-mutilation by adolescents and young adults. The population, aged 14-25 years (N = 308), included a clinical sample of dependent subjects (drug abuse and eating disorders) compared to a control sample. On the basis of the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview ( Sheehan et al., 1998 ), DSM-IV criteria were used for the inclusion of the clinical population. The results concerning the occurrence of suicide attempts as well as on self-mutilation confirm most of the hypotheses postulated: suicidal attempts and self-mutilation were more common in the clinical group compared to the control group, and there was a correlation between suicide attempts and self-mutilation. However, there was only a partial overlap, attesting that suicide and self-harm might correspond to two different types of behaviour.

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Coping Style as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Deliberate Self-Harm

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000083 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 272-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Allison S. Christian ◽

Kristen M. McCabe

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Self Blame ◽

Self Harm ◽

The Relationship

Background: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) occurs with high frequency among clinical and nonclinical youth populations. Although depression has been consistently linked with the behavior, not all depressed individuals engage in DSH. Aims: The current study examined maladaptive coping strategies (i.e., self-blame, distancing, and self-isolation) as mediators between depression and DSH among undergraduate students. Methods: 202 students from undergraduate psychology courses at a private university in Southern California (77.7% women) completed anonymous self-report measures. Results: A hierarchical regression model found no differences in DSH history across demographic variables. Among coping variables, self-isolation alone was significantly related to DSH. A full meditational model was supported: Depressive symptoms were significantly related to DSH, but adding self-isolation to the model rendered the relationship nonsignificant. Limitations: The cross-sectional study design prevents determination of whether a casual relation exists between self-isolation and DSH, and obscures the direction of that relationship. Conclusions: Results suggest targeting self-isolation as a means of DSH prevention and intervention among nonclinical, youth populations.

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Attachment Organization in Suicide Prevention Research

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000231 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 60-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Amanda Venta ◽

Carla Sharp

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempt ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Critical Role ◽

Self Report ◽

Future Research ◽

Self Harm

Background: Identifying risk factors for suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (SRTB) is essential among adolescents in whom SRTB remain a leading cause of death. Although many risk factors have already been identified, influential theories now suggest that the domain of interpersonal relationships may play a critical role in the emergence of SRTB. Because attachment has long been seen as the foundation of interpersonal functioning, we suggest that attachment insecurity warrants attention as a risk factor for SRTB. Aims: This study sought to explore relations between attachment organization and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm in an inpatient adolescent sample, controlling for demographic and psychopathological covariates. Method: We recruited 194 adolescents from an inpatient unit and assigned them to one of four attachment groups (secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or disorganized attachment). Interview and self-report measures were used to create four variables reflecting the presence or absence of suicidal ideation in the last year, single lifetime suicide attempt, multiple lifetime suicide attempts, and lifetime self-harm. Results: Chi-square and regression analyses did not reveal significant relations between attachment organization and SRTB, although findings did confirm previously established relations between psychopathology and SRTB, such that internalizing disorder was associated with increased self-harm, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt and externalizing disorder was associated with increased self-harm. Conclusion: The severity of this sample and methodological differences from previous studies may explain the nonsignificant findings. Nonsignificant findings may indicate that the relation between attachment organization and SRTB is moderated by other factors that should be explored in future research.

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Identifying Suicide Typologies Among Trauma-Exposed Veterans

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000637 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 288-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadia Bounoua ◽

Jasmeet P. Hayes ◽

Naomi Sadeh

Keyword(s):

Latent Profile Analysis ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Profile Analysis ◽

Risky Behaviors ◽

Self Report ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Research Priority ◽

Self Harm ◽

And Behaviors

Abstract. Background: Suicide among veterans has increased in recent years, making the identification of those at greatest risk for self-injurious behavior a high research priority. Aims: We investigated whether affective impulsivity and risky behaviors distinguished typologies of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in a sample of trauma-exposed veterans. Method: A total of 95 trauma-exposed veterans (ages 21–55; 87% men) completed self-report measures of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, impulsivity, and clinical symptoms. Results: A latent profile analysis produced three classes that differed in suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI): A low class that reported little to no self-injurious thoughts or behaviors; a self-injurious thoughts (ST) class that endorsed high levels of ideation but no self-harm behaviors; and a self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (STaB) class that reported ideation, suicide attempts and NSSI. Membership in the STaB class was associated with greater affective impulsivity, disinhibition, and distress/arousal than the other two classes. Limitations: Limitations include an overrepresentation of males in our sample, the cross-sectional nature of the data, and reliance on self-report measures. Conclusion: Findings point to affective impulsivity and risky behaviors as important characteristics of veterans who engage in self-injurious behaviors.

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Gender Differences in Suicidal Intent and Choice of Method Among Suicide Attempters

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910.29.4.209 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 209-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Merete Nordentoft ◽

Jacob Branner

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Suicidal Intent ◽

Suicide Intent ◽

Suicidal Intention ◽

National Patient ◽

Prevention Center ◽

Suicide Prevention Center

The objective was to examine gender differences in choice of method and suicidal intent among persons referred to a suicide prevention center. A total of 351 consecutive patients who had attempted suicide were interviewed using the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule I (EPSIS I) while participating in a 2-week inpatient treatment program. They were invited to a 1-year follow-up interview, and followed in the National Patient Register. Compared to women, men who had attempted suicide were older, had better self-esteem, fewer depressive symptoms, and higher total suicidal intention scores, but they were not more likely to use violent methods. Neither use of violent method nor dangerousness of the attempt was associated with suicidal intention. Although men had higher suicide intent scores than women, there were no significant gender differences in the number of repeat suicide attempts during a 1-year follow-up period. Suicidal intent was not related to dangerousness of suicide method.

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Self-harm and suicidality among three subgroups of male sex offenders: results from an Australian prisoner cohort

Health & Justice ◽

10.1186/s40352-021-00146-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mathew Gullotta ◽

David Greenberg ◽

Olayan Albalawi ◽

Armita Adily ◽

Azar Karminia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Offenders ◽

Sex Offender ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Violent Offenders ◽

Health Condition ◽

Self Report ◽

Psychiatric Medication ◽

Self Harm ◽

Self Report Data

Abstract Objective Prisoners complete suicide and self-harm more frequently than members of the community. Sex offenders have been found to be at greater risk of engaging in these behaviours. This study examines the characteristics, prevalence, and predictors of self-harm and suicide attempts among: sex offenders that only victimise children (ChildSOs); adults (AdultSOs); or both (age-crossover polymorphous; PolySOs). Methods Data from three waves (1996, 2001, 2009) of the New South Wales (NSW) Inmate Health Survey was linked to the State’s re-offending database to identify men with histories of sexual offending. The health surveys captured self-report data on self-harm and suicidality. Results Non-sexual violent offenders (15%) and AdultSOs (14%) had the highest rate of self-harm, significantly more than ChildSOs (11%), non-sexual non-violent offenders (10%), and PolySOs (0%). Several factors significantly predicted self-harm at the bivariate level for both ChildSOs and AdultSOs, with unique predictors for each group. At the multivariate level, manic-depression trended towards significance for ChildSOs and any mental health condition remained a significant predictor for AdultSOs who self-harmed relative to AdultSOs who had not (aOR = 11.989, 95%CI [1.14, 126.66]). Approximately 23% of AdultSOs, 22% of PolySOs, and 19% of ChildSOs reported a suicide attempt throughout their lifetime, whereas only 15% of non-sexual non-violent offenders reported an attempt. At the bivariate level, few factors were significant for ChildSOs while several factors were significant for AdultSOs. At the multivariate level, a diagnosis of depression and treatment with psychiatric medication trended towards being significant predictors of suicide attempts for ChildSOs. In contrast, treatment with psychiatric medication (aOR = 25.732, 95%CI [1.91, 347.19])] remained a significant predictor for AdultSOs who attempted suicide relative to AdultSOs who had not, as well as historical psychiatric hospitalisation (aOR = 6.818, 95%CI [1.04, 44.82]) and self-harm (aOR = 5.825, 95%CI [1.31, 25.99]). Conclusion Sex offenders are at significantly higher risk of attempting and completing suicide relative to non-sexual non-violent offenders and warrant special attention. The prevalence rates and predictors of self-harm and suicidality suggest differences between sex offender subgroups may exist. These hold implications for the criminal justice and public health systems for addressing needs and identifying those most at risk of self-harm and suicide.

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Deliberate self-harm in young people: attendance at a paediatric emergency department

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0790966700000392 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 114-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sophia Morgan ◽

Sinead Byrne ◽

Carole Boylan ◽

Stephen McLearie ◽

Carol Fitzpatrick

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Young People ◽

Medical Records ◽

Risk Group ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Paediatric Emergency Department ◽

Paediatric Emergency ◽

Appropriate Treatment ◽

Self Harm

AbstractObjectives: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is the strongest predictor of suicidal behaviour. This retrospective study reviewed all DSH presentations to our Paediatric Emergency Department between 2002-2006.Method: Using database and medical records we profiled these presentations. Data was coded and statistically analysed.Results: There were 253 DSH attendances. Twenty-four percent were living in care, 15% were under 12 years and 14% presented more than once. Overdoses (61%) were more common than cutting (16%) and 56% had a psychiatric condition.Conclusions: DSH presents an ongoing challenge to child and adolescent mental health services and those working in suicide prevention. Identifying the characteristics of these young people is essential to providing appropriate treatment for this high-risk group.

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