Violent and non-violent methods of attempted and completed suicide in Swedish young men: the role of early risk factors

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a paucity of studies on the role of early risk factors for the choice of methods for violent suicide attempts. Adolescent risk factors for the choice of violent or non-violent methods for suicide attempts and the risk of subsequent suicide were studied using a longitudinal design.MethodsA national Swedish cohort of 48 834 18–20-year-old young men conscripted for military service from 1969 to 1970 was followed through official registers during a 37-year period. Two questionnaires concerning their psychosocial background were answered by each conscript. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to estimate the risk for different methods of attempted suicide and later suicide.ResultsA total of 1195 (2.4 %) men had made a suicide attempt and of these, 133 (11.1 %) committed suicide later. The number of suicide victims among the non-attempters was 482 (1 %). Half of the suicides occurred during the same year as the attempt. Suicide victims had earlier onset of suicidal behaviour and had more often used hanging as a method of attempted suicide than those who did not later commit suicide. The early risk factors for both violent and non-violent methods of suicide attempt were quite similar.ConclusionViolent suicide attempts, especially by hanging, are associated with a clearly elevated suicide risk in men and require special clinical and public health attention. The early risk factors related to the choice of either a violent or a non-violent suicide attempt method are interlinked and circumstantial factors temporally close to the suicide attempt, such as access to a specific method, may partly explain the choice of method.

Epidemiological Study of Suicide in Khuzestan Province, South West of Iran, during 2011 to 2014

“…The results of this study indicate that the most common methods of suicide attempts were drug abuse, use of poison and hanging and among completed suicides, hanging, self-harm and drug abuse were more common. In similar studies in China [30] and Sweden [37], the most common methods used for suicide were listed as drug abuse and the use of poison and other studies show that the most common methods of suicide attempts were self-harm [29] and the use of solids and liquids [27], studies in Turkey [31,32], Malaysia [12], Russia [38] show that the most common method of suicide deaths was noted as hanging in which the results were consistent with our results. Studies in United States indicate that the most common methods of suicide deaths were gunshots, hanging and the use of poison (drug overdose) [15] and in Sweden the poisons were used rather than other suicide methods [37].…”

“…In similar studies in China [30] and Sweden [37], the most common methods used for suicide were listed as drug abuse and the use of poison and other studies show that the most common methods of suicide attempts were self-harm [29] and the use of solids and liquids [27], studies in Turkey [31,32], Malaysia [12], Russia [38] show that the most common method of suicide deaths was noted as hanging in which the results were consistent with our results. Studies in United States indicate that the most common methods of suicide deaths were gunshots, hanging and the use of poison (drug overdose) [15] and in Sweden the poisons were used rather than other suicide methods [37]. In this study, Family discord was listed as the most important motivation for suicide (suicide attempters and completed suicide), while the results of other studies show that disease and family problems was listed as the most common motivation among completed suicides [31].…”

“…Omawiane badanie wskazuje, że najczęstszymi metodami dokonywania próby samobój-czej były przedawkowanie leków lub narkotyków, zaży-cie trucizny i powieszenie, a wśród samobójstw dokonanych powszechniej -powieszenie, samookaleczenie i przedawkowanie. Podobne badania przeprowadzone w Chinach [30] i Szwecji [37] podają przedawkowanie leków i użycie trucizny jako najczęstsze metody wykorzystywane do popełnienia samobójstwa; inne badania wskazują, że najczęstszą metodą jest samookaleczenie [29] oraz użycie ciał stałych i płynów [27]. Badania w Turcji [31,32], Malezji [12] i Rosji [38] wykazują, że najczęstszą metodą było powieszenie; wyniki badań są zgodne z niniejszymi wynikami.…”

“…Badania w Turcji [31,32], Malezji [12] i Rosji [38] wykazują, że najczęstszą metodą było powieszenie; wyniki badań są zgodne z niniejszymi wynikami. Badania w USA wskazują na postrzały, powieszenia i zażycie trucizny (przedawkowanie) jako najczęstsze metody prowadzą-ce do samobójczych śmierci [15], a w Szwecji preferowaną metodą jest zażycie trucizny [37]. W niniejszym badaniu najważniejszą przyczyną targnięcia się na ży-cie (próby samobójcze i samobójstwa dokonane) były nieporozumienia rodzinne; inne badania wskazują, że najczęstszymi motywami samobójstw dokonanych były choroba i problemy w rodzinie [31].…”

The Temperament and Character Traits in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Affective Disorder With and Without Suicide Attempt

“…In comparison to previously mentioned results and studies, lower scores in HA and higher scores in NS, SD and ST may be interpreted as possibly sample specific or from the wider perspective, perceived as protective factors in this group of patients. According to some studies, the possible influence of sociodemographic factors and methods used for suicide attempt may not be disregarded (Stenbacka & Jokien 2015, Mendlowicz et al 2000. Our sample showed of high level of unemployment (42% of all patients), low average monthly income (62% of all patients) with predominantly non-violent methods of suicide attempts.…”