Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Suicide Reattempers Attending a Suicide Prevention Clinic in a General Hospital in South India- a Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction Suicide is a multifactorial malady and accounts as one of the top causes of mortality in Psychiatry. India has seen a 22.7 % increase in past decade and Kerala contributes nearly 6%. Risk factors that differentiate individuals who make subsequent suicide re-attempts have been less investigated. this study conducted to analyze the variables that may be associated with suicide reattempt. Aims & Objectives 1. To study the demographic and clinical characteristics of suicide re-attempters 2. To study the various factors predisposing the individual for reattempting suicide Method Study design-Descriptive study (Record based) Study sample-Suicide re-attempters who attended Suicide Prevention Clinic (SPC) from July 2013 to June 2014 Patient records of past 1 year screened, Suicide re-attempters identified, Assessment of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics done, The data collected was tabulated and analysis done with SPSS v16 for windows. Results Current Psychiatric diagnosis: 63 % Adjustment disorder 11.8 % Affective disorders, mainly Depression 1.2 % Schizophrenia 19 % Alcohol abuse More males had a biological illness 13.58 % More than 1 previous attempts Family history of psychiatric relevance: • 7.4 % Affective disorders • 9.8 % Alcohol abuse • 11.1 % Deliberate self harm Download : Download full-size image Download : Download full-size image Other parameters also studied with relation of time of attempt. family type, socioeconomic status, time between stressor and attempt, method of attempt, etc which will be discussed in detail. Conclusions Factors predisposing to a re-attempt may be 1. Male sex 2. Middle age (20-40 yrs) 3. Being Married 4. Belonging to Nuclear family 5. Lower socioeconomic class No significant difference from 1st time suicide attempters.