Sex differences in risk factors for suicide after attempted suicide-a follow-up study of 1052 suicide attempters.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate suicide risk factors after attempted suicide and whether and how these risk factors differ between the sexes.


METHODS
A total of 1052 suicide attempters admitted to the Medical Emergency Inpatient Unit, Lund University Hospital, Sweden were followed up concerning suicide and death from other causes after a median period of 6 years and 5 months. In all, 50 persons committed suicide during follow-up. At the index suicide attempt, socio-demographic data and information about clinical characteristics were gathered in a standardised manner. Risk factors were identified among these data using survival analyses for the whole sample and for each sex separately.


RESULTS
Men had a higher frequency of suicide and a greater overall mortality than women. Cox regressions showed that suicide attempt(s) prior to the index attempt and the use of a violent method for the index attempt were risk factors for men only, whereas older age and a high suicidal intent (Beck SIS score) were female ones. Major depression was a risk factor for both sexes.


CONCLUSIONS
More attention probably needs to be paid to the importance of gender in assessment of suicide risk and treatment of suicide attempters.
Skogman
Katarina
K
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, University Hospital, 22185, Lund, Sweden.
Alsén
Margot
M
Ojehagen
Agneta
A
D000328:Adult; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health