Adolescent suicidal behaviours: a population-based study of risk.
BACKGROUND
Reports of adolescent suicidal behaviour have generally derived from clinical settings but population-based studies are likely to provide a clearer epidemiological view.


METHODS
Non-fatal suicidal behaviours were studied in 1699 Australian 15- to 16-year-old secondary school students at 44 schools in the state of Victoria, Australia. Self-reported episodes of self-harm were characterized using items from the Beck Suicide Intent Scale.


RESULTS
The 12 month weighted prevalence estimate for deliberate self-harm was 5.1%. The commonest forms were self-laceration (1.7%), self-poisoning (1.5%) and deliberate recklessness (1.8%). Self-poisoning and self-laceration were commoner in girls. The prevalence of 'true suicide attempts' was 0.2%. Most self-harmers did not perceive death as likely, plan self-harming episodes at length or inform others of the episodes. Psychiatric morbidity had the strongest association with self-harm, an association which held for all subtypes. Antisocial behaviour and substance abuse were associated with self-harm in girls but not boys. Sexual activity was independently associated with self-harm in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Deliberate self-harm was common but the great majority of episodes were not 'true suicide attempts'. It is, therefore, possible that attributable mortality and morbidity may be greater in self-harmers without definite suicidal intent.
Patton
G C
GC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Harris
R
R
Carlin
J B
JB
Hibbert
M E
ME
Coffey
C
C
Schwartz
M
M
Bowes
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology