Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
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Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol · May 2008
Characteristics of recent violence among entrants to acute mental health and substance abuse services.
The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of recent interpersonal violence perpetrated and experienced by individuals recruited from acute crisis mental health and substance abuse treatment settings and to examine differences among incidents involving individuals with mental disorders only (MDO), substance use disorders only (SDO), and co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (COD). ⋯ Violence is common among individuals entering acute crisis mental health and substance abuse treatment. We found that such persons are more likely to report being victims of violence than perpetrators of violence. In contrast to prior studies, we found that most incidents took place outdoors. Although individuals in different diagnostic groups were no more or less likely to perpetrate or experience violence, they perpetrated and experienced violence under different circumstances. Implications and directions for future research and practice are discussed.
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Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol · Apr 2008
Suicide by charcoal burning in Taiwan: implications for means substitution by a case-linkage study.
This study estimated the incidence of suicide mortality among suicide attempters in Taiwan and assessed the extent of means substitution among subjects with a non-fatal attempt and a subsequent fatal attempt during the study period. ⋯ Persons who attempt suicide by charcoal burning are a high-risk group for completed suicide. Those who burned charcoal in a suicide attempt were likely to use the same method in a later lethal attempt, and charcoal burning was a frequent cause of death among those who used different methods in earlier attempts. Charcoal burning should be a target for suicide prevention efforts.
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The answer to the question whether suicide rates are higher in urban than in rural areas may have changed over the years. This study analyzes the longitudinal trends of rural and urban suicides in Austria from 1970 to 2005. The most recent decade, 1995-2005 was also investigated cross-sectionally in terms of age groups, gender, suicide methods and family status. ⋯ In line with recent findings from other western countries, we showed a growing gap between rural and urban suicide rates. This suggests a need for rural-specific suicide prevention efforts, especially aimed at the male rural population.
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Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol · Jan 2008
Familial clustering of suicidal behaviour and psychopathology in young suicide attempters. A register-based nested case control study.
Familial clustering of suicidal behaviour and psychopathology has been reported in young suicide attempters. Most of these studies were predominantly carried out in clinical treatment settings and lacked statistical power to assess the independent and modifying influences of own and familial psychopathology and suicidal behaviour. ⋯ Early recognition and adequate treatment of individual mental illness contribute to prevent youth suicide attempts. Children of parents with psychopathology and suicidal behaviour should receive early support and attention. Evaluation of familial suicidal behaviour seems to be vital for suicide risk assessment in young psychiatric inpatients. There appears to be an independent effect of familial suicidal behaviour as well as familial psychopathology on youth suicide attempt beyond the transmission of mental illness.
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Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol · Jul 2007
Multicenter StudySelf-harm in England: a tale of three cities. Multicentre study of self-harm.
Self-harm is a major healthcare problem in the United Kingdom, but monitoring of hospital presentations has largely been done separately in single centres. Multicentre monitoring of self-harm has been established as a result of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. ⋯ Multicentre monitoring of self-harm in England has demonstrated similar overall patterns of self-harm in Oxford, Manchester and Leeds, with some differences reflecting local suicide rates. Diurnal variation in time of presentation to hospital and the need for assessment of non-admitted patients have implications for service provision.