title: Childhood physical abuse, non-suicidal self-harm and attempted suicide amongst regular injecting drug users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood physical abuse (CPA), non-suicidal self-harm and attempted suicide are all highly prevalent amongst injecting drug users (IDU). This paper reported on the association of CPA with self-harm and attempted suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, with 300 IDU administered a structured interview examining the prevalence of CPA, non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CPA was reported by 74.3%, and severe CPA by 40.3%. A history of non-suicidal self-harm was reported by 23.7%, and 25.7% had attempted suicide. Non-suicidal self-harm preceded the suicide attempt in 83.3% of cases where both had occurred. Independent correlates of non-suicidal self-harm were: female gender (OR 3.62), avoided home due to conflict (OR 2.28) and more extensive polydrug use (OR 1.32). Independent correlates of attempted suicide were: severe CPA (OR 3.18), frequent CPA (OR 2.54), avoided home due to conflict (OR 3.95), female gender (OR 2.99), a positive screen for Conduct Disorder (OR 3.53), and more extensive polydrug use (OR 1.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those presenting to treatment agencies are highly likely to have a history of CPA, that may still influence their behaviours. Screening for histories of CPA and non-suicidal self-harm appears warranted when determining suicide risk for this population. At the population level, reductions in the rate of CPA, could possibly reduce the rate of subsequent suicidality.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: s.darke@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darke
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attempted suicide; Childhood physical abuse; Correlates; Self-harm; Substance use