Relationship between suicide intent lethality and risk correlates for suicide attempters in Pondicherry, the suicide Capital of India

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Original Article

Author Details : Anand Lingeswaran

Volume : 3, Issue : 1, Year : 2017

Article Page : 8-15

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Abstract

Background: Pondicherry has recorded the highest suicide prevalence rate in the last 4 years, yet not much of evidence based research have been undertaken to address it.
Objectives: We planned to study the socio-demographic and clinical profile of suicide attempters in relation to the degree of suicidal intent and lethality of the attempt.
Methods: We conducted an observational, hospital based study of 12 months duration. The WHO SUPREMISS was used to record socio-demographic data, and suicide related data. ICD-10 was used for clinical diagnosis. Beck’s depression inventory for measuring depression, suicide intent scale, lethality of suicide attempt rating scale, Presumptive stressful life events scale was used to record recent life events and depression. SPSS version 13 was used for descriptive analysis and to compare between high intent and low intent groups based on mean lethality scores for each of the variables. Regression analysis was done to identify risk correlates. (p< 0.05)
Results: Our total sample was 62, out of which 50% were in15-25 age groups with more males than females (36/26: 1.03:1), more rural (64.5%), and majority were married (75%). Pesticide ingestion (48%) was the commonest method of the suicide attempt made in this sample. Higher depression scores (BDI = 13.50 ± 6.4) and more lethal attempts in high intent group was noticed. A significant correlation was found between the degree of the suicidal intent and the lethality of the attempt.
Conclusions: Although our sample was low, our findings matched national data with higher young age suicide attempters but with distinct socio-demographic and clinical profiles shows the need for sensitive risk assessment and focus on primary prevention of suicide.

Keywords: Depression, Suicide, Lethality, Pesticide

Key Messages:

1.        Our sample showed higher young age suicide attempters with a distinct socio-demographic and clinical profile.

2. People who had higher suicidal intention were found to choose highly lethal attempts methods of suicide attempt

How to cite : Lingeswaran A, Relationship between suicide intent lethality and risk correlates for suicide attempters in Pondicherry, the suicide Capital of India. IP Indian J Neurosci 2017;3(1):8-15

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