TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Non-fatal repetition of self-harm: population-based prospective cohort study in Taiwan
JO  - British journal of psychiatry
A1  - Chen, Vincent Chin-Hung
A1  - Tan, Happy K. L.
A1  - Cheng, A. T.
A1  - Chen, Ching-Yen
A1  - Liao, Long-Ren
A1  - Stewart, Robert
A1  - Dewey, Michael
A1  - Prince, M.
SP  - 31
EP  - 35
VL  - 196
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Repeated self-harm is relatively common and is linked with an elevated risk of eventual suicide. There has been no study of this involving a large sample from the Far East. AIMS: To estimate the risk over the medium term of non-fatal repetition of self-harm and identify predictive factors in those carrying out self-harm. METHOD: A total of 970 individuals who had self-harmed were recruited from a community-based suicide behaviour register system in Nantou, Taiwan from July 2000 to February 2003. Information regarding demography and suicide methods was collected. Individuals were followed-up until December 2005 to examine the risk of repeated self-harm and independent predictive factors. RESULTS: Ninety cohort members had repeated self-harm during the follow-up period (accounting for 131 repeated self-harm episodes in all). The cumulative risks were 5.7% for the first year, 7.8% for the second year and 9.5% for the fourth year. The risk was highest within the first year after the self-harm event. Independent risk factors included female gender and self-cutting as well as self-poisoning with drugs. Effect of younger age was mediated through the choice of methods. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with self-harm have a high risk of repetition, especially within the first year. Suicide prevention strategies need to focus on intervening with this population to reduce their repetition.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0007-1250
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.109.067009
ID  - ref1
ER  -