Premium
Prevalence and predictors of parasuicide in chronic psychosis
Author(s) -
Walsh E.,
Hawey K.,
White I.,
Manley C.,
Fraser J.,
Stanbridge S.,
Group R. M. Murray for the UK
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb10881.x
Subject(s) - parasuicide , psychosis , psychiatry , medicine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , epidemiology , poison control , injury prevention , psychology , suicide attempt , medical emergency
Objective This study estimates the prevalence of and risk factors for parasuicide in a large community‐based sample of patients with chronic psychosis. Method A total of 704 subjects with chronic psychosis were interviewed using a battery of instruments. The 2‐year prevalence of parasuicide was estimated and a comparison was made between attempters and non‐attempters on a wide range of Sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results The 2‐year prevalence of parasuicide was 18.8%. Attempters were significantly more likely to be younger, of white ethnic origin, to have a diagnosis of affective disorder, to be currently depressed, to have experienced more auditory hallucinations and to have received treatment with antipsychotic drugs for a longer period. Conclusion Parasuicide was found to present a considerable clinical problem in this group. Continual risk assessment is essential to reduce this unacceptably high rate.