Leo Sher1,2, Michael F Grunebaum1, Ainsley K Burke1, Sadia Chaudhury1, J John Mann1, Maria A Oquendo1,3. 1. 1 New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. 2. 2 James J. Peters Veterans' Administration Medical Center and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. 3. 3 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is compelling evidence that suicide attempts are among the strongest predictors of suicide and future suicide attempts. AIM: This study aimed to examine psychopathology in multiple-suicide attempters. METHOD: We compared the demographic and clinical features of three groups: depressed patients without a history of suicide attempts (non-attempters), depressed patients with a history of one to three suicide attempts (attempters), and depressed patients with a history of four or more suicide attempts (multiple attempters). RESULTS: We found that attempters and multiple attempters had higher levels of depression, hopelessness, aggression, hostility, and impulsivity and were more likely to have borderline personality disorder and family history of major depression or alcohol use disorder compared with non-attempters, but did not differ between each other on these measures. Multiple attempters had greater suicidal ideation at study entry and were more likely to have family history of suicide attempt compared with attempters. Importantly, multiple attempters had greater suicide intent at the time of the most medically serious suicide attempt and more serious medical consequences during their most medically serious suicide attempt compared with attempters. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design of the study. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that multiple-suicide attempters require careful evaluation as their behavior can have serious medical consequences.
BACKGROUND: There is compelling evidence that suicide attempts are among the strongest predictors of suicide and future suicide attempts. AIM: This study aimed to examine psychopathology in multiple-suicide attempters. METHOD: We compared the demographic and clinical features of three groups: depressedpatients without a history of suicide attempts (non-attempters), depressedpatients with a history of one to three suicide attempts (attempters), and depressedpatients with a history of four or more suicide attempts (multiple attempters). RESULTS: We found that attempters and multiple attempters had higher levels of depression, hopelessness, aggression, hostility, and impulsivity and were more likely to have borderline personality disorder and family history of major depression or alcohol use disorder compared with non-attempters, but did not differ between each other on these measures. Multiple attempters had greater suicidal ideation at study entry and were more likely to have family history of suicide attempt compared with attempters. Importantly, multiple attempters had greater suicide intent at the time of the most medically serious suicide attempt and more serious medical consequences during their most medically serious suicide attempt compared with attempters. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design of the study. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that multiple-suicide attempters require careful evaluation as their behavior can have serious medical consequences.
Authors: Philippe Golay; Louise Ostertag; Alessandra Costanza; Bénédicte Van der Vaeren; Yves Dorogi; Stéphane Saillant; Laurent Michaud Journal: Ann Gen Psychiatry Date: 2021-05-13 Impact factor: 3.455