@article{ref1,
title="Predictive value of psychological characteristics and suicide history on medical lethality of suicide attempts: a follow-up study of hospitalized patients",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2016",
author="Trakhtenbrot, Ruth and Gvion, Yari and Levi-Belz, Yossi and Horesh, Netta and Fischel, Tsvi and Weiser, Mark and Treves, Ilan and Apter, Alan",
volume="199",
number="",
pages="73-80",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study examined the role of mental pain, communication difficulties, and suicide history in predicting the medical severity of follow-up suicide attempts. <br><br>METHODS: The cohort included 153 consecutive psychiatric in-patients who participated in earlier studies 1-9 years previously. Fifty-three had a history of a medically serious suicide attempt (MSSA), 64 had a history of a medically non-serious suicide attempt (MNSSA), and 36 had no history of suicide. A MSSA was defined as a suicide attempt that warranted hospitalization for at least 24h and extensive medical treatment. Participants completed a battery of instruments measuring mental pain and communication difficulties. <br><br>FINDINGS were analyzed in relation to follow-up suicide attempts and their severity. <br><br>RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (35.5%) had attempted suicide: 15 (9.9%) a MSSA (including 5 fatalities) and 38 (25%) a MNSSA. The medical severity of the index attempt and level of hopelessness at the index attempt were significantly correlated with medical severity of the follow-up attempt. In younger patients, high levels of depression and self-disclosure predicted the medical severity of the follow-up attempt. In patients with relatively low hopelessness, the medical severity of the attempt increased with the level of self-disclosure. LIMITATIONS: (i) Possibly incomplete patient information, as some of the patients who participated in the index studies could not be located. (ii) Relatively small group of patients with an index MSSA. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have made a suicide attempt should be assessed for medical severity of the attempt, hopelessness, and communication difficulties, which are important factors in follow-up attempts.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.054",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.054"
}