Risk and protective factor for suicide attempt in Iran: a matched case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
In order to generate local evidence, a case-control study was designed to explore risk factors for suicide attempts (SA) in one of the larger cities in the southeast of Iran-Kerman.


METHODS
From one of the main referral hospitals, 300 cases and 300 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. On top of demographic variables, the following variables were compared in the two groups: personality traits, psychological condition, religiosity, coping skills, general health, and recent stressful events.


RESULTS
Having adjusted for recent stressful events as the most important factor (OR = 1.66, P-value < 0.001), the main significant variables were: general health (1.04, P = 0.02), the support of friends (OR = 0.95, P-value = 0.04), being problem-focused mentality (OR = 0.88, P-value = 0.005), and intrinsic religiousness (OR = 0.86, P-value = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Although, recent stress increased the risk of SA considerably, other factors such as general health, friends' support, and being problem-focused may predispose subjects independently. Conversely, intrinsic religious beliefs and close social networks may have protective effects. Therefore, a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended to minimize the burden of SA in Iran.
Health Policy Research Center (HPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
Maryam
M
Akbari
Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Ali-Akbar
AA
Haghdoost
Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Nouzar
N
Nakhaee
Department of Mental Health, Deputy of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Ali
A
Bahramnejad
Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Baneshi
Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. zolalafarzaneh@gmail.com.
Farzaneh
F
Zolala
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D065840:Protective Factors; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D060756:Social Networking; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult