Citation

Encrenaz G, Miras A, Contrand B, Galéra C, Pujos S, Michel G, Lagarde E. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2014; 22: 20-25.

Affiliation

Equipe prévention et prise en charge des traumatismes, Centre de recherche INSERM U897 «Epidémiologie et Biostatistiques», University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: Emmanuel.lagarde@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2013.11.009

PMID

24485415

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of suicide attempts during imprisonment in a French prison and to determine factors associated with them. METHODS: All male inmates of a prison for prisoners awaiting trial or serving a short sentence (Bordeaux, France) were eligible for this cross-sectional study. They were face-to-face interviewed by an experienced psychologist (n = 369; mean age = 36 years). Socio-demographic data, imprisonment conditions, health status, healthcare utilization, mental health, impulsiveness, inmate-to-inmate violence (victim and perpetrator status) and suicidal behaviours were documented. RESULTS: The incidence of suicidal attempts during imprisonment was 13.4 per 100 person-years. Having made at least one suicide attempt during imprisonment was associated with: being a victim of physical or sexual violence without perpetrating it (adjusted OR = 5.4; 95%CI [2.4-12]), suffering from depressive and anxious symptoms (adjusted OR = 3.3; 95%CI [1.5-7.7]), having children (adjusted OR = 3.0; 95%CI [1.2-7.7]) and having a poor perceived health status (OR = 2.5; 95%CI [1.1-5.4]). A history of suicide attempt before imprisonment was not associated with the risk of suicide attempts while imprisoned. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that violence plays a major role in the suicidal process in prison. The inclusion of inmate-to-inmate violence in the screening checklists of inmate suicide risk should be explored.

Language: en