Studying survivors of near-lethal suicide attempts as a proxy for completed suicide in prisons.
Suicides in prisons are common. There is a pressing need to understand more about the causes and prevention of prisoner suicides. A particularly informative approach is through studying survivors of near-lethal suicide attempts. However, the extent to which this approach is a good proxy for completed suicide requires verification. In this article we aimed to assess (1) the extent to which male and female prisoners who made near-lethal suicide attempts in prison are similar to prisoners who die by suicide; (2) the suicidal intent of those making near-lethal suicide attempts; and (3) the applicability of the Suicide Intent Scale in prisons. Survivors of near-lethal suicide attempts and prisoners who died by suicide were compared on sociodemographic and criminological characteristics. The suicidal intent of prisoners engaging in near-lethal self-harm was assessed using Beck's Suicide Intent Scale. There were no significant differences when the sociodemographic and criminological profiles of prisoners who made near-lethal suicide attempts and those who died by suicide were compared, except that male prisoners who made near-lethal suicide attempts were somewhat younger. Most prisoners carrying out near-lethal acts had high suicidal intent. However, some questions in the Suicide Intent Scale were inappropriate for assessing intent in prisoners. Prisoners who survive near-lethal self-harm would appear to be a valid proxy for those who die by suicide in prison. The Suicide Intent Scale requires some modifications for use in prisons.
Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
Adrienne
A
Rivlin
Seena
S
Fazel
Lisa
L
Marzano
Keith
K
Hawton
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult