Citation

Scoliers G, Portzky G, Audenaert K, van Heeringen CK. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 148.

Affiliation

Unit for Suicide Research, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Gerrit.Scoliers@UGent.be.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964151

Abstract

This study examines prevention, diagnosis and treatment characteristics for admission of a subsequent suicide attempt during a 5-year follow-up period. 1017 suicide attempters were referred to the Accident and Emergency department of the University Hospital Ghent between 1990 and 1993. These patients were contacted 5 years later and asked to participate; 359 (35.3%) agreed and were interviewed at their homes. The study group included 56.8% (n=204) females and 43.2% (n=155) males. A history of suicide attempts, before the index attempt, was reported by 34.0%. 104 patients 29.2% initiated in a subsequent suicide attempt within the 5 years of follow-up. Female gender, having a history of suicide attempts prior to the index attempt, attending outpatient therapy, and receiving medical treatment were significantly more common among repeaters. Additionally, repeaters had a lower educational level than first-evers. Receiving medical treatment and changes in living situation differentiated significantly in a multivariate analysis between first-evers and repeaters. Risk factors for recurrent suicidal attempts are: female gender, a history of suicide attempts prior to the index attempt, outpatient therapy, medical treatment, primary school educational level, and improvement in living situation.

Language: en