TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of methods of suicide attempts in Korea
T2 - Korea National Suicide Survey (KNSS)
AU - Kim, Bora
AU - Ahn, Joon Ho
AU - Cha, Boseok
AU - Chung, Young Chul
AU - Ha, Tae Hyon
AU - Hong Jeong, Seong
AU - Jung, Hee Yeon
AU - Ju, Gawon
AU - Kim, Eun Young
AU - Kim, Jae Min
AU - Kim, Moon Doo
AU - Kim, Min Hyuk
AU - Kim, Soo In
AU - Lee, Kyoung Uk
AU - Lee, Sang Hyuk
AU - Lee, Seung Jae
AU - Lee, Yu Jin
AU - Moon, Eunsoo
AU - Ahn, Yong Min
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/12/1
Y1 - 2015/12/1
N2 - Background Because the method used for a suicide attempt is an important determinant of outcome, these methods should be explored. The present study was a nationwide investigation of suicide attempts and the characteristics of suicidal behavior. Aims To compare the suicide methods used in attempted suicides with those used in completed suicides and to examine the factors associated with each phenomenon. Methods The present study reviewed the medical charts of subjects who had attempted suicide and subsequently visited the emergency rooms of 17 medical centers from May 1, 2013 to November 7, 2013. All subjects completed a full psychiatric interview conducted by trained psychiatric residents. Suicide-attempt methods were divided into the following six categories: drug poisoning, pesticide poisoning, gassing, cutting, hanging, and others. The associations among demographic variables, related psychiatric variables, and suicide-attempt methods were analyzed using a multinomial regression analysis. Results Of the 1359 suicide attempts or instrumental suicide-related behaviors with/without injuries and the 14,160 completed suicides, drug poisoning and cutting were the most common suicidal behaviors with/without injuries, but they were the least frequent method of completed suicides. In contrast, hanging and jumping from a height were less common among failed suicide attempts but resulted in a higher percentage of fatalities. Being male, age, and area of residence were associated with pesticide poisoning, whereas previous suicide attempts were associated with cutting, pesticide poisoning, and gassing. Conclusion A previous suicide attempt is a risk factor for suicide; thus, assessing the characteristics of suicide attempts or instrumental suicide-related behaviors with/without injuries is necessary to prevent these attempts. The present findings showed that the methods of suicide used by individuals who only attempted suicide differed from those used by individuals who completed. Of the suicide methods, pesticide poisoning was related to age, residential area (urban), and a history of previous suicide attempts.
AB - Background Because the method used for a suicide attempt is an important determinant of outcome, these methods should be explored. The present study was a nationwide investigation of suicide attempts and the characteristics of suicidal behavior. Aims To compare the suicide methods used in attempted suicides with those used in completed suicides and to examine the factors associated with each phenomenon. Methods The present study reviewed the medical charts of subjects who had attempted suicide and subsequently visited the emergency rooms of 17 medical centers from May 1, 2013 to November 7, 2013. All subjects completed a full psychiatric interview conducted by trained psychiatric residents. Suicide-attempt methods were divided into the following six categories: drug poisoning, pesticide poisoning, gassing, cutting, hanging, and others. The associations among demographic variables, related psychiatric variables, and suicide-attempt methods were analyzed using a multinomial regression analysis. Results Of the 1359 suicide attempts or instrumental suicide-related behaviors with/without injuries and the 14,160 completed suicides, drug poisoning and cutting were the most common suicidal behaviors with/without injuries, but they were the least frequent method of completed suicides. In contrast, hanging and jumping from a height were less common among failed suicide attempts but resulted in a higher percentage of fatalities. Being male, age, and area of residence were associated with pesticide poisoning, whereas previous suicide attempts were associated with cutting, pesticide poisoning, and gassing. Conclusion A previous suicide attempt is a risk factor for suicide; thus, assessing the characteristics of suicide attempts or instrumental suicide-related behaviors with/without injuries is necessary to prevent these attempts. The present findings showed that the methods of suicide used by individuals who only attempted suicide differed from those used by individuals who completed. Of the suicide methods, pesticide poisoning was related to age, residential area (urban), and a history of previous suicide attempts.
KW - Methods of suicide attempts
KW - Suicide
KW - Suicide attempts
KW - Suicide methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84941369249&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.050
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.050
M3 - Article
C2 - 26368946
AN - SCOPUS:84941369249
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 188
SP - 218
EP - 225
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -