Retrospective Recall Study about Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics in High Lethality Suicide Attempters

Ji Yeon Kim; Jin Pyo Hong; Jun Won Hwang; Jin Hyeong Jhoo; Yeong Gi Kyeon; Kanguk Lee

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.435

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(4) > 1017759

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Kim, Hong, Hwang, Jhoo, Kyeon, and Lee: Retrospective Recall Study about Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics in High Lethality Suicide Attempters

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(4): 435-443.

Published online: 30 November 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.435

Retrospective Recall Study about Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics in High Lethality Suicide Attempters

Ji Yeon Kim, MD¹, Jin Pyo Hong, MD, PhD², Jun Won Hwang, MD, PhD³, Jin Hyeong Jhoo, MD, PhD³, Yeong Gi Kyeon, MD¹, Kanguk Lee, MD, PhD³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Chuncheon National Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Kanguk Lee, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, 156 Baengnyeong-ro, Chuncheon 24289, Korea. Tel +82-33-258-2310, Fax +82-33-258-2146, kuleemd@kangwon.ac.kr

Received 14 July 2015 Revised 31 August 2015 Accepted 1 September 2015

Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to examine the factors affecting suicide decision and to understand in detail their psychological and behavioral changes with high lethality suicide attempters who were supposed to be similar to suicide completers.

Methods

Twenty patients who visited Kangwon National University Hospital or Chuncheon National Hospital participated in this study. After applying suicide lethality with Risk-Rescue Rating Scale, high lethality attempters were screened. Each subject participated in an in-depth interview with a semi-structured interview schedule.

Results

The participants had high mean Risk-Rescue Rating Score (45.0±8.7), indicating that the study was conducted with the most lethal suicide attempters. Most attempters had chosen their methods of suicide impulsively without consideration for lethality, and most attempters reported that they chose suicide methods from recall of reports by mass media ; 70% of attempters had more than one previous suicide attempt and their suicide methods have been changed to increase the suicide success rate. Most common accompanying emotions before suicide attempts were hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, and loneliness. Most important precipitating factors of suicide were economic difficulties.

Conclusion

These characteristics regarding suicide attempts led us to a detailed understanding. These results are expected to provide valuable information for development of evidence based suicide prevention policies and strategies.

Keywords: High lethality suicide attempt, Suicide prevention, Retrospective recall study

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Sociodemographic characteristics of study participants (n=20)

Table 2

General characteristics of suicide attempt

RRS : Risk-Rescue Rating Score

Table 3

Reasons, process, and potential preventive measures of suicide attempt

Table 4

Actions after decision of suicide, assumptions about success probability of suicide before suicide attempt, feelings after recued, continuation of suicide ideation rate after suicide attempt

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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