Open AccessReporting suicide attempts: consistency and its determinants in a large mental health study
Author(s) -
Eikelenboom Merijn,
Smit Johannes H.,
Beekman Aartjan T. F.,
Kerkhof Ad J. F. M.,
Penninx Brenda W. J. H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of methods in psychiatric research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.275
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1557-0657
pISSN - 1049-8931
DOI - 10.1002/mpr.1423
Subject(s) - psychopathology , cidi , mental health , anxiety , psychology , psychiatry , depression (economics) , major depressive episode , clinical psychology , national comorbidity survey , mood , economics , macroeconomics
A lifetime history (LTH) of suicide attempts (SAs) is frequently assessed in mental health surveys. However, little is known about the reliability of assessing a LTH of SA. This study examined the consistency and its determinants of reporting a LTH of SA in a large cohort of persons with a history of depression and/or anxiety. Data are from the baseline and two‐year assessments of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Persons with a Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI)‐based lifetime depressive and/or anxiety disorder ( N = 1973) constitute the study sample. A LTH of SAs was assessed at baseline and at two‐year follow‐up. Of the persons who reported at either interview a LTH of SAs, more than one‐third did not report this consistent at both interviews. Moreover, indications were found for more consistent reporting among persons with a higher number of SAs and among persons with current (severe) psychopathology as compared to those with remitted or less severe current psychopathology. Our results showed that even a salient topic as a history of SAs is prone for reporting errors, and that current psychological state influences reporting of a LTH of SAs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.