Citation

Ziherl S, Zalar B. Eur. Psychiatry 2006; 21(6): 396-400.

Affiliation

University Psychiatric Hospital Ljubljana, Studenec 48, 1260 Ljubljana, Slovenia. slavko.ziherl@psih-klinika.si

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2005.04.006

PMID

15993572

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: All suicide attempts cannot predict suicide, therefore we examined those characteristics of suicide attempt which could most accurately predict completed suicide. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Subjects were all individuals registered as committed suicides (N=16,522) or attempted suicides (N=15,057) in the register of suicides of the Republic of Slovenia between 1970 and 1996. Log linear analysis of a frequency table was used to uncover relationship between categorical variables. RESULTS: The model we found fit between variables: mode, number of repetitions and type, then between number of repetitions, type and gender, and between mode, type and gender. DISCUSSION: The risk of suicide in those who previously attempted suicide is approximately 773 times higher than the risk of suicide without a previous suicide attempt. Those who attempt suicide by hanging (hanging being in Slovenia the most frequent mode of completed suicide) are at even greater risk to commit suicide. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that clinicians should heighten their awareness that any suicide attempt can in some 20% predict suicide. Someone who has attempted suicide by hanging is at the highest risk of suicide.

Language: en