title: Exploration of factors related to hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore factors associated with hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior in contemporary Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted on medical records of 421 patients (174 male; 247 female) who were considered suicidal and treated at the Kitasato University Hospital Emergency Medical Center in Japan between January 2006 and March 2008. We compared hara-kiri and all other methods regarding sociodemographics and clinical features of all suicidal patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Instances of hara-kiri suicide attempt had the highest proportion of males (63%) among all suicide and suicidal behavior. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between hara-kiri and other suicide attempt methods in the age of the suicidal patients. Result of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that those who attempted hara-kiri suicide were likely to be male, be diagnosed with schizophrenia, survive, and be married.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior remains prevalent in Japan, and the study findings also suggest that both clinical and cultural factors might play a role in hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwamitsu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyaji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatematsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yukawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008499:Medical Records; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*