Prediction of repeated parasuicide after 1-12 months.
To investigate predictors for repetition of suicide attempts 1-12 months after a suicide attempt.


METHODS
Two hundred and sixteen patients who had made a suicide attempt were investigated after 1 month, and 178 were followed up again after 12 months.


RESULTS
During 1-12 months after the suicide attempt, 30 patients reattempted suicide (repeaters). During 0-1 month 13 patients had reattempted suicide (early repeaters), and nine of them also repeated between 1 and 12 months. Repeaters had more often made three or more attempts before index attempt, they more often were in treatment at the index attempt and at 1 month they had lower global functioning and higher suicide ideation. In a Cox Regression analysis two predictors for repetition between 1 and 12 months remained significant; early repetition (OR 6.7, 95% CI, 3.0-14.9) and having GAF-scores below 49 (median cut-off) (OR 3.4 (95% CI, 1.5-7.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that repetitive behaviour in itself is a strong predictor of future attempts. Strategies focusing on the repetitive behaviour are warranted.
Cedereke
M
M
Department of Clinical Neuroscience Division of Psychiatry, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. marie.cedereke@omv.lu.se
Ojehagen
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012984:Software; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors