title: Clinical features of suicide attempts after traumatic brain injury.
abstract: This study documents demographic, clinical and temporal parameters for suicide attempts after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Clinical interviews and a medical file review were conducted with an outpatient sample (N = 172), identifying 45 clients (26.2%) who had collectively made a lifetime total of 80 suicide attempts. Data were collected on postinjury psychopathology, current hopelessness, and suicide ideation, as well as historical data about the attempts. The sample (N = 43, missing data N = 2) had a lifetime prevalence of 1.86 attempts, with 19 clients (44.2%) making repeat attempts. The majority (70%) of the attempts were made postinjury. Medical attention was provided in 60.7% of attempts. The odds ratio found that respondents with a comorbid postinjury history of psychiatric/emotional disturbance and substance abuse were 21 times more likely to have made an attempt post-TBI compared with respondents with no such history. The findings can inform suicide prevention initiatives among people with TBI.
authors.affiliation: Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Grahame
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data