TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1997//
TI  - Adolescent suicidal behaviours: a population-based study of risk
JO  - Psychological medicine
A1  - Patton, George C.
A1  - Harris, R.
A1  - Carlin, John B.
A1  - Hibbert, M. E.
A1  - Coffey, Claire
A1  - Schwartz, Michael
A1  - Bowes, Glenn
SP  - 715
EP  - 724
VL  - 27
IS  - 3
N2  - BACKGROUND: Reports of adolescent suicidal behaviour have generally derived from clinical settings but population-based studies are likely to provide a clearer epidemiological view. METHODS: Non-fatal suicidal behaviours were studied in 1699 Australian 15- to 16-year-old secondary school students at 44 schools in the state of Victoria, Australia. Self-reported episodes of self-harm were characterized using items from the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. RESULTS: The 12 month weighted prevalence estimate for deliberate self-harm was 5.1%. The commonest forms were self-laceration (1.7%), self-poisoning (1.5%) and deliberate recklessness (1.8%). Self-poisoning and self-laceration were commoner in girls. The prevalence of 'true suicide attempts' was 0.2%. Most self-harmers did not perceive death as likely, plan self-harming episodes at length or inform others of the episodes. Psychiatric morbidity had the strongest association with self-harm, an association which held for all subtypes. Antisocial behaviour and substance abuse were associated with self-harm in girls but not boys. Sexual activity was independently associated with self-harm in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Deliberate self-harm was common but the great majority of episodes were not 'true suicide attempts'. It is, therefore, possible that attributable mortality and morbidity may be greater in self-harmers without definite suicidal intent.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0033-2917
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -