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Suicidal Behaviour

Suicidal Behaviour. Dr E Cassidy CUH January 2011. Terminology. Suicide. Death by individual who died “intentional” act or omission “completed” rather than “successful”. Self-Harm. Attempted Suicide Deliberate Self-Harm Parasuicide Self-Poisoning or Self-Injury Self-Mutilitation

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Suicidal Behaviour

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  1. Suicidal Behaviour Dr E Cassidy CUH January 2011

  2. Terminology

  3. Suicide • Death • by individual who died • “intentional” • act or omission • “completed” rather than “successful”

  4. Self-Harm • Attempted Suicide • Deliberate Self-Harm • Parasuicide • Self-Poisoning or Self-Injury • Self-Mutilitation • Everything that doesn’t involve death – a behaviour not a diagnosis

  5. Suicide

  6. Deaths classified as suicide in Ireland (1996-2009) Year 2008 and 2009 figures are provisional

  7. Trends in undetermined deaths in Ireland (1996-2009) Year 2008 and 2009 figures are provisional

  8. SUICIDE IN IRELAND • 500 per year • Peak M 20-24yo (34/100,000) • Peak F 45-54yo • Males @ 80% • Hanging, Poisoning, Drowning

  9. Associations • Unemployed and retired • Divorced, never married • Certain Professions • Social class: I and V • Country variation lower in LDCs than Western; China (females) • Cultural variation • Seasonal variation • Highest April to June

  10. Context • 1 in 6 leave notes • 1 in 2 have self harmed in the past • Majority have told someone • GP in previous month

  11. Suicide and Psychiatry • ?90% suffer from some mental disorder • OCD may protect

  12. Suicide and Schizophrenia • 10% mortality • Risks with • Early in illness • Males, younger • Relapses • Akathisia • Recent discharge • Paranoid ( Roy, 1982 )

  13. Suicide and Depression • 5-15% lifetime risk • Melancholic depression • Psychotic depression • Family History

  14. Self-Harm

  15. Incidence of deliberate self harm 2003-2009Total number of DSH episodes: 75,119Total number of individuals involved: 48,206

  16. Incidence of DSH by age and gender, Average rates 2003-2009

  17. Main method of self harm (Average 2003-2009) Men Women Alcohol was involved in 46% and 38% of male and female acts, respectively

  18. Intentions • Most neither want nor expect to die • 1/3 no thoughts • Cry for help • Escape • Often impulsive • 20-40% alcohol on board • Recent life stress • 20% repeats • Self-Mutilation • Punishment, Relieve tension

  19. Associations • Separated and divorced • Low Socioeconomic status • Urban > Rural • Childhood disadvantage • Lack of Social Support • Lack of Religious affiliation • Collective (Princess Di effect, clustering) • Availability of means (paracetamol)

  20. Cumulative probability of repeated DSH by DSH method and number of previous episodes Self-cutting & overdose Self-cutting only Other Attempted drowning Attempted hanging Drug overdose only Four previous DSH presentations Three previous DSH presentations Two previous DSH presentations One previous DSH presentation No previous DSH presentation

  21. The burden of repeated deliberate self harm

  22. Factors associated with repetitionindependent of previous repetition Women aged 35-44 years had the highest risk of repetition (+33%) Among women, those who engaged in self-cutting only (+57%) and those with self-cutting with drug overdose (+48%) had the highest risk of repetition Among men, those engaging in self-cutting in combination with drug overdose had the highest risk (+49%)  

  23. Aetiology of Suicidal Behaviour

  24. Vulnerability – Stress • Vulnerability • Family history • Impulsive/aggressive personality traits • Childhood adversity/abuse • Hopelessness • Over generalised autobiographical recall • Stress • Life and esp interpersonal stress • Physical illness • Failed Inhibition • Alcohol and Drugs • Head Injury/ cognitive impairment • Lack of Adaptive Coping • social support, problem solving ability • Maladaptive coping • with alcohol, drugs (disinhibition)

  25. Neurobiology • Serotonin: • Low 5-HIAA in CSF • Reduced frontal 5-HT2A receptor biding • 5HT is involved in impulsivity • 5-HTTLP predicts self-harm following life stress • HPA axis • Hyperactivity predicts self-harm / completion in depressives • Cholesterol • Low cholesterol predicts • Prefrontal Cortex • Failed response inhibition

  26. Repetition

  27. Risk of Repetition • Think of risk as immediate and long term • Characteristics of attempt • Characteristics of person • Underlying psychiatric or physical disorder

  28. Repetition and Suicide • 15% repeat by 1 year • 10%% suicide at long-term outome • Lethal prior method • Psychiatric disorder • Older males • Social isolation • Repeated self-harm • Avoiding discovery at time of self-harm • Strong suicidal intent • Substance misuse (especially in young people) • Hopelessness • Poor physical health

  29. Enquiring about suicide

  30. Asking about suicide • Asking about it does NOT increase the risk • It may decrease it! • But do it sensitively

  31. Ask sensitively • Many people… • After what you’ve told me… • How do you think things will turn out ? • Do you ever wish you would never wake up ? • Have you thought about ending it all ? • What would you do ?

  32. Assess suicidal risk • Current plans and intent • Availability • How far down the path have they gone • Why not yet • Current mental state • Previous attempts • Planning, precautions • Dangerousness (real and perceived) • What happened • Supports and ability to access them

  33. Initial Management • Treat mental disorder • Address needs • Alcohol • Finance • Relationships • Give crisis contact details

  34. Prevention • Complex public health initiatives • ? Reduce alcohol • Identify and treat more Depression • Lithium in Bipolar disorder • Clozapine in Schizophrenia • DBT in Borderline PD

  35. NATIONAL CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRYINTO SUICIDE AND HOMICIDEBY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS England and Wales Annual report 2009

  36. Patient Suicide • 26% suicides had contact with mental health services in the 12 months prior • Suicides less common following non-compliance/loss of contact with services • 14% of all suicides are Psychiatric Inpatients • 70% of these occurred off the ward • Inpatient suicides falling • Fallen by 1/3 (50% less hanging/strangulation) • Belts, shoelaces, sheets, towels • Removal of non-collapsible curtain rails 2002

  37. Psychiatric diagnosis Affective disorder (534) Schizophrenia (198 - stable) Personality disorder 104 - (fallen) Alcohol Dependence (83 - fallen) Drug Dependence (24 - fallen) Other (176)

  38. Method Hanging, OD, Jumping Hanging, jumping increased Overdose, CO poisoning decreased Drowning, firearms and burning stable

  39. Reach Out National Suicide Strategy 2005-2014

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