Predictors of low-intent and high-intent suicide attempts in rural China.
OBJECTIVE
Acts of suicide are heterogeneous with respect to level of intent. Data on correlates of intent are overwhelmingly from Western samples. We sought to identify correlates of low-intent and high-intent suicide attempts in China.


METHODS
We compared 277 adult case patients who presented to the emergency department in a rural hospital because of attempted suicide to 277 community control individuals, pair-matched for age, gender, and location of residence. Attempted suicides were stratified into 3 levels of suicide intent: low, intermediate, and high. Paired logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
High-intent acts of suicide were associated with major depression, chronic stress, and a relative or associate who had a history of suicidal behavior. These correlates were not associated with low-intent acts of suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
High-intent acts of suicide in China are the culmination of longstanding difficulties or symptoms including depression, chronic stress, and previous exposure to suicidal behavior. Prevention of high-intent acts of suicide should include a focus on these domains.
Conner
Kenneth R
KR
Department of Psychiatry and Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. kenneth_conner@urmc.rochester.edu
Phillips
Michael R
MR
Meldrum
Sean C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data