title: Cluster analysis reveals risk factors for repeated suicide attempts in a multi-ethnic Asian population.
abstract: This study explores underlying patterns in suicide risk factors using data mining techniques. Medical records of suicide attempters who were admitted to a teaching hospital in January 2004 - December 2006 were studied. Cluster analysis revealed hidden patterns for repeated and single attempters (n=418). Repeated attempters had a more complex clinical picture. Symptoms of psychotic illness, borderline personality disorder, and psychosomatic complaints of insomnia and headaches, reports of adverse life events such as unemployment, divorce and quarrels, experience of negative feelings, and usage of alcohol were associated with risk of repeated overdoses with benzodiazepines and paracetamol. The findings have implications for suicide assessments and interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. Electronic address: C.Choo@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diederich
authors.affiliation: School of Business and IT, James Cook University, 600 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574421, Singapore.
authors.forename: Insu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Borderline personality disorder; Cluster analysis; Data mining; Psychotic illness; Repeated suicide attempts; Risk factors