Citation

Kresnow MJ, Ikeda RM, Mercy JA, Powell KE, Potter LB, Simon TR, Lee RK, Frankowski RF. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2001; 32(1 Suppl): 7-20.

Affiliation

Office of Statistics and Programming, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. mkresnow@cdc.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11924698

Abstract

This article details the research methods and measurements used in conducting a population-based, case-control study of nearly lethal suicide attempts among persons aged 13-34 years, residing in Houston, Texas. From November 1992 to July 1995, we interviewed 153 case subjects presenting at one of three participating hospital emergency departments and used random digit dialing to identify 513 control subjects residing in the same catchment area in which cases were enlisted. Unlike most research in this area, this study was designed to extend our understanding of suicidal behavior and prevention activities beyond identification and treatment of depression and other mental illnesses. We discuss the overall strengths and weaknesses of our study design and conclude that this methodology is well suited for studying rare outcomes such as nearly lethal suicide.