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Self-Immolation in the Arab World: A Systematic Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

S. El Hayek ,
M. Cherro ,
N. El Harake  and
E. Ghossoub
S. El Hayek
Affiliation:
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Psychiatry And Behavioral Sciences, Miami, United States of America
M. Cherro*
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut, Psychiatry, Beirut, Lebanon
N. El Harake
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut, Psychiatry, Beirut, Lebanon
E. Ghossoub
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut, Psychiatry, Beirut, Lebanon
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Self-immolation is the centuries-old act of setting fire to oneself. Recent spikes in self-immolation events have been noticed in the Arab world, specifically in the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2011.

Objectives

To examine the literature assessing the characteristics and patterns of suicide by self-immolation in the Arab world.

Methods

We registered our systematic review in Prospero [CRD42020207164]. We searched PubMed, Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Scopus databases from inception until 6 September 2021. We collected relevant articles via title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening. We then conducted a narrative synthesis of the results.

Results

We found 31 out of 314 articles that fit our inclusion criteria: 4 qualitative and 27 quantitative cross-sectional studies. The quantitative studies had a sample size ranging from 22 to 600 self-inflicted burn victims. The studies emanated from Iraq (n=16), Tunisia (n=6), Saudi Arabia (n=2), Libya (n=2), Jordan (n=2), and Egypt, Palestine and Bahrain collectively (n=3). Studies showed that self-immolators are commonly married females, age ranging between 13 and 66 years old, having no education or solely primary education, and of low socioeconomic status. Self-immolation was more likely to happen at home, usually following marital conflicts, with the primary motive being suicide. Studies highlighted an increase of self-immolation as a form of protest. Kerosene was the most commonly used accelerant. Depression was the most comorbid mental health diagnosis.

Conclusions

Self-immolation is not uncommon in the Arab world. Specific interventions directed at the population at risk are warranted.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

Suicideself-immolationarab world
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S837
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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