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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2/2006

01-02-2006 | Original Paper

Core features of repeated suicidal behaviour

A long-term follow-up after suicide attempts in a low-suicide-incidence population

Authors: August G. Wang, MD, DMSc, Gudrun Mortensen, MD

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 2/2006

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this article was to study repeated suicidal behaviour in a low-incidence population to elucidate robust risk factors.

Methods

A cohort of first-ever suicide attempters from 1960 to 1982 on the Faroe Islands was followed up for a minimum of 20 years. The cohort was initially characterized in psychiatric and social terms.

Results

The incidence of suicidal behaviour for the cohort years (age 15 years and older) was 37.9 per 100,000 per year (95% confidence interval 31.5–45.1). It was associated, as expected, with gender, age, residence, marital status, occupation, diagnosis, previous psychiatric admission, alcohol intoxication and the method and planning of the act. Factors of the index episode predicting repetition at 5 years were gestures and alcohol intoxication and at 20 years were physical methods, suicide letter and alcohol intoxication.

Conclusions

Alcohol intoxication and the level of determination behind the suicide attempt emerge as targets for prevention. Alcohol intoxication at the initial episode seems to be a strong long-term as well as short-term risk factor.
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Metadata
Title
Core features of repeated suicidal behaviour
A long-term follow-up after suicide attempts in a low-suicide-incidence population
Authors
August G. Wang, MD, DMSc
Gudrun Mortensen, MD
Publication date
01-02-2006
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 2/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0980-4

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