Is prior suicide attempt a reliable indicator of short-term suicide risk amongst patients admitted to an acute suicide inpatient intervention unit in India?

Abstract

Introduction

Traditionally past suicide attempt is considered a strong reliable factor in predicting an immediate or short-term suicide risk. Considering the complex interplay of different variables associated with suicide, the absence of past attempts may not prove to be of lesser risk for a consequent attempt.

Aim

To compare sociodemographic and clinical correlates within high-risk suicidal patients who have made a recent suicide attempt in the presence versus absence of past suicide attempts.

Methods

Retrospective review of patient's records admitted to intensive care unit, applied suicide intervention and supportive treatment (ASIST) between 1st January 2015 and 31st May 2016 was conducted. Data was extracted for all consecutive admissions to ASIST, of adults (16 to 60 years) male patients with high risk for suicide.

Results

Out of 109 at risk inpatients, 31% were recent attempters without past attempts and 13.5% were recent and past attempters. Rest included past attempters without recent attempt and non-attempters. Except for poor coping skills, which were significantly higher (Chi²= 13.97; P = 0.001) in the group consisting recent and past attempters, all other relevant sociodemographic and illness related correlates were comparable across these groups.

Conclusion

Suicide risk may be associated with multiple factors. Apart from past attempts, a faulty coping style can be associated with risk for further attempts. Other correlates like age, marital status, employment and illness profile did not follow the traditional pattern in our study which makes them equally important while addressing suicide risk in Indian men.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.