title: Characteristics of methods of suicide attempts in Korea: Korea National Suicide Survey (KNSS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because the method used for a suicide attempt is an important determinant of outcome, these methods should be explored. The present study was a nationwide investigation of suicide attempts and the characteristics of suicidal behavior.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the suicide methods used in attempted suicides with those used in completed suicides and to examine the factors associated with each phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study reviewed the medical charts of subjects who had attempted suicide and subsequently visited the emergency rooms of 17 medical centers from May 1, 2013 to November 7, 2013. All subjects completed a full psychiatric interview conducted by trained psychiatric residents. Suicide-attempt methods were divided into the following six categories: drug poisoning, pesticide poisoning, gassing, cutting, hanging, and others. The associations among demographic variables, related psychiatric variables, and suicide-attempt methods were analyzed using a multinomial regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1359 suicide attempts or instrumental suicide-related behaviors with/without injuries and the 14,160 completed suicides, drug poisoning and cutting were the most common suicidal behaviors with/without injuries, but they were the least frequent method of completed suicides. In contrast, hanging and jumping from a height were less common among failed suicide attempts but resulted in a higher percentage of fatalities. Being male, age, and area of residence were associated with pesticide poisoning, whereas previous suicide attempts were associated with cutting, pesticide poisoning, and gassing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A previous suicide attempt is a risk factor for suicide; thus, assessing the characteristics of suicide attempts or instrumental suicide-related behaviors with/without injuries is necessary to prevent these attempts. The present findings showed that the methods of suicide used by individuals who only attempted suicide differed from those used by individuals who completed. Of the suicide methods, pesticide poisoning was related to age, residential area (urban), and a history of previous suicide attempts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University, College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Boseok
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National Univeristy Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Hyon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Eulji University School of Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chunbuk National University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gawon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jeju National University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Doo
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hyuk
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ewha Womans University, School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Uk
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eunsoo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Korean Association for Suicide Prevention, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: aym@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Methods of suicide attempts; Suicide; Suicide attempts; Suicide methods