Citation

Nagra GS, Lin A, Upthegrove R. Psychiatry Res. 2016; 241: 78-82.

Affiliation

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT, United Kingdom; Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, 50 Summer Hill Road, Birmingham B1 3RB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: r.upthegrove@bham.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2016.04.103

PMID

27156028

Abstract

Self-harm is the most robust risk for completed suicide. There is a lack of understanding of why some people who self-harm escalate to suicidal behaviour when others do not. Psychological factors such as attachment, self-forgiveness and self-appraisal may be important. To determine whether factors from the Interpersonal Theory and Schematic Appraisals models are useful to identify suicidal behaviour in populations that self-harm. Specifically we investigate whether resilience factors of secure attachment, self-forgiveness and positive self-appraisals significantly influence suicidality in people who self-harm. A cross-sectional online study of 323 participants recruited from self-harm support forum. Validated self-report measures were used to assess appraisals, relationships, self-forgiveness, attachment style, suicidality and self-harm. Emotion coping and support seeking self-appraisals and self-forgiveness were negatively associated with suicidality in participants with a history of self-harm. Dismissing attachment was positively associated with suicidality. The perceived ability to cope with emotions, the perceived ability to gain support and self-forgiveness may protect against suicide in people who self-harm. Conversely the presence of dismissing attachment may increase the risk of suicidality.

FINDINGS provide therapeutic targets to reduce risk of suicidality in this high risk group.

Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Language: en