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Namgung E, Ha E, Yoon S, Song Y, Lee H, Kang HJ, Han JS, Kim JM, Lee W, Lyoo IK, Kim SJ. Identifying unique subgroups in suicide risks among psychiatric outpatients. Compr Psychiatry 2024; 131:152463. [PMID: 38394926 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of psychiatric disorders is widely recognized as one of the primary risk factors for suicide. A significant proportion of individuals receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment exhibit varying degrees of suicidal behaviors, which may range from mild suicidal ideations to overt suicide attempts. This study aims to elucidate the transdiagnostic symptom dimensions and associated suicidal features among psychiatric outpatients. METHODS The study enrolled patients who attended the psychiatry outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital in South Korea (n = 1, 849, age range = 18-81; 61% women). A data-driven classification methodology was employed, incorporating a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms, to delineate distinctive subgroups among psychiatric outpatients exhibiting suicidality (n = 1189). A reference group of patients without suicidality (n = 660) was included for comparative purposes to ascertain cluster-specific sociodemographic, suicide-related, and psychiatric characteristics. RESULTS Psychiatric outpatients with suicidality (n = 1189) were subdivided into three distinctive clusters: the low-suicide risk cluster (Cluster 1), the high-suicide risk externalizing cluster (Cluster 2), and the high-suicide risk internalizing cluster (Cluster 3). Relative to the reference group (n = 660), each cluster exhibited distinct attributes pertaining to suicide-related characteristics and clinical symptoms, covering domains such as anxiety, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and feelings of hopelessness. Cluster 1, identified as the low-suicide risk group, exhibited less frequent suicidal ideation, planning, and multiple attempts. In the high-suicide risk groups, Cluster 2 displayed pronounced externalizing symptoms, whereas Cluster 3 was primarily defined by internalizing and hopelessness symptoms. Bipolar disorders were most common in Cluster 2, while depressive disorders were predominant in Cluster 3. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest the possibility of differentiating psychiatric outpatients into distinct, clinically relevant subgroups predicated on their suicide risk. This research potentially paves the way for personalizing interventions and preventive strategies that address cluster-specific characteristics, thereby mitigating suicide-related mortality among psychiatric outpatients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Namgung
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunji Ha
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sujung Yoon
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yumi Song
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyangwon Lee
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hee-Ju Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Jung-Soo Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Min Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Wonhye Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - In Kyoon Lyoo
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Seog Ju Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
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Santoriello C, De Rosa C, Rufo C, Romano F, Termoli G, Fiorillo G, Caprio L, Vitolo M, Pagano AM. Suicide Risk Screening and Assessment before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in New Inmates. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:100. [PMID: 38201006 PMCID: PMC10779268 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Suicide is the main cause of death in Italian prisons. The largest number of inmates who killed themselves was recorded during three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore psychosocial risk factors for suicide among inmates incarcerated before and after the onset of COVID-19. (2) Methods: At prison reception, inmates underwent clinical interviews and were assessed using the Blaauw Scale and Suicide Assessment Scale. Psychological distress, measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-R, was compared between inmates admitted before and after COVID-19. Regression analyses were run to examine psychosocial vulnerabilities associated with suicidal intent in newly incarcerated individuals at risk of suicide. (3) Results: Among the 2098 newly admitted inmates (93.7% male) aged 18 to 87 years (M = 39.93; SD = 12.04), 1347 met the criteria for suicide risk, and 98 exhibited high suicidal intent. Inmates who entered prison after the onset of COVID-19 were older and had fewer social relationships. They had a higher prevalence of recidivism and substance abuse, along with elevated levels of psychological distress. An increase in perceived loss of control, anergia, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation emerged as the factors most strongly associated with high suicidal intent. (4) Conclusions: These findings support the value of psychosocial screening in promptly identifying inmates at risk of suicide, enabling the implementation of targeted, multi-professional interventions. Future research should replicate these results, with a focus on longitudinal studies that monitor the same inmates throughout their incarceration period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Santoriello
- Unità Operativa Semplice Dipartimentale U.O.S.D. Department of Adults and Minors Healthcare, Criminal Area, Local Health Authority of Salerno, 84132 Salerno, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Antonio Maria Pagano
- Unità Operativa Semplice Dipartimentale U.O.S.D. Department of Adults and Minors Healthcare, Criminal Area, Local Health Authority of Salerno, 84132 Salerno, Italy
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Gu H, Yu W, Cheng Y. Pattern of non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese male prisoners: A latent class analysis. J Clin Psychol 2024; 80:86-96. [PMID: 37705343 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) occurs more frequently in the prisoner population than in the general population. Monitoring and management of this behavior is challenging because NSSI may present in diverse ways. People often use more than one method of NSSI, and there are many possible combinations of these behaviors. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups of male inmates based on methods and frequency of NSSI. METHODS A total of 1042 male prisoners in China (Mage = 38.45, SD = 10.67) completed measures of hopelessness, sensation seeking, identity integration, and suicidal ideation, and NSSI was assessed in a structured interview. RESULTS Results of the LCA supported a three-class model: high-NSSI (1.8%), moderate-NSSI (8.0%), and no-or-negligible NSSI (90.2%). Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that prisoners in the high-NSSI and moderate-NSSI classes were significantly more likely than those in the no-or-negligible NSSI class to show high hopelessness, high sensation seeking, and low identity. Furthermore, suicidal ideation was significantly higher in the high-NSSI and moderate-NSSI classes than in the no-or-negligible NSSI class. CONCLUSIONS Classifying groups of prisoners based on features of NSSI is potentially useful for understanding risk factors and for developing tailored prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Gu
- Department of Psychology, Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Weiming Yu
- Department of Psychology, Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yufang Cheng
- Department of Psychology, Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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Bailo P, Gibelli F, Celletti A, Caraffa A, Sirignano A, Ricci G. The contributing factors to suicide in Italian prisons: An 11-year analysis (2010-2020). CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH : CBMH 2023; 33:441-454. [PMID: 38081794 DOI: 10.1002/cbm.2319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is a leading cause of death globally, with approximately 800,000 deaths annually and accounting for 1.5% of all deaths. Risk factors are multifaceted, encompassing individual factors (such as genetics, family history and mental illnesses) and environmental factors (such as economic conditions, social support and life events). In prisons, suicide rates are markedly higher than in the general population, particularly in Italy, where the prisoner suicide rate is approximately 20 times that of the non-incarcerated population. There is, however, little research on suicide in Italian prisons. AIMS To analyse the characteristics of all people who died by suicide in Italian prisons between 2010 and 2020. METHODS We carried out a records-based cohort study analysing official data from the Italian Ministry of Justice on prison suicides between 2010 and 2020. The data were cross-referenced and, when required, supplemented with information from Ristretti Orizzonti, a journal specialising in health and living conditions in prisons, as well as from the website of ISTAT (Italian National Statistical Institute), newspapers, radio broadcasts and news agencies. RESULTS Factors associated with an increased risk of suicide in prisons were nighttime periods, the months of June, July and October, a relatively brief duration of detention (<6 months), having been convicted of murder, male gender, being about 40 years old, having access to hanging materials and being interned (i.e. subjected to the execution of custodial security measures) or awaiting trial. Prison overcrowding was not a risk factor for suicide. CONCLUSION Our findings hold substantial implications for suicide prevention in Italian prisons as they suggest both characteristics of individuals and characteristics of the institutions that could be taken as risk indicators. This knowledge can inform the development of targeted interventions to manage both individual and environmental factors better, leading to improved prison conditions and reduced suicide rates. Furthermore, our research establishes a foundation for more systematic and in-depth investigations that could further improve suicide prevention strategies in Italian prisons, ultimately influencing policy changes in both practice and research, including perhaps establishing a national database on every completed suicide in prisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Bailo
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino (MC), Camerino, Italy
| | - Filippo Gibelli
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino (MC), Camerino, Italy
| | - Asaea Celletti
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino (MC), Camerino, Italy
| | - Anna Caraffa
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino (MC), Camerino, Italy
| | - Ascanio Sirignano
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino (MC), Camerino, Italy
| | - Giovanna Ricci
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino (MC), Camerino, Italy
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Alcántara-Jiménez M, Torres-Parra I, Guillén-Riquelme A, Quevedo-Blasco R. Los Factores Psicosociales en el Suicidio de Presos en Prisiones Europeas: una Revisión Sistemática y Metaanálisis. ANUARIO DE PSICOLOGÍA JURÍDICA 2023. [DOI: 10.5093/apj2022a13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
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Favril L, Shaw J, Fazel S. Prevalence and risk factors for suicide attempts in prison. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 97:102190. [PMID: 36029609 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Suicidal behaviour represents a substantial burden of morbidity and mortality in prisons worldwide. We aimed to synthesise the evidence on prevalence and risk factors for suicide attempts during incarceration. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched four bibliographic databases for studies (published up to May 31, 2022) reporting on adults sampled from the general prison population who attempted suicide while incarcerated and an unselected comparison group. A total of 20 studies comprising 19,882 individuals (6.5% women) in 20 countries were eligible for inclusion. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts during incarceration was 8.6% (95% CI 6.1-11.2) in men and 12.2% (95% CI 7.1-17.2) in women. Across all 36 risk factors studied, the strongest associations were found for suicidal ideation, previous self-harm, and markers of psychiatric morbidity. Prison-related risk factors included solitary confinement, victimisation, and poor social support while incarcerated. Sensitivity analyses indicate that risk factors for near-lethal suicide attempts are similar to those for suicide attempts more generally. In addition to providing a synthesis of previous work, our systematic review highlights several key limitations of the extant literature, which provide directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Favril
- Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jenny Shaw
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Seena Fazel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Marchi M, Artoni C, Longo F, Magarini FM, Aprile G, Reggianini C, Florio D, De Fazio GL, Galeazzi GM, Ferrari S. The impact of trauma, substance abuse, and psychiatric illness on suicidal and self-harm behaviours in a cohort of migrant detainees: An observational, prospective study. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2022; 68:514-524. [PMID: 33269641 DOI: 10.1177/0020764020979007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to the WHO, detainees attempt suicide ten times more than the general population. AIMS To investigate the impact of migration trauma on Suicidal and Self-Harm Behaviours (SSHB) of migrants in jail and to explore how substance use and other psychiatric features affect this relationship. METHODS Prospective cohort study, conducted at the 'Sant'Anna' jail in Modena (Italy) between February 2017 and September 2019. Socio-demographic, psychiatric features and records of previous SSHB were collected. Experience of migration-related trauma was assessed with the LiMEs (List of Migration Experiences) checklist. Participants were followed-up for the occurrence of further SSHB. Survival analysis was performed and Cox's Hazard Ratios (HR) were used as a measure of association of comparisons. RESULTS Amongst the 112 subjects (96% male, median age 33), the prevalence of any mental disorder was 26% and of substance abuse 59%. History of SSHB was present in 36% of the sample. Median follow-up time was 80 days. During follow-up, 11 events were observed (of which three were suicide attempts). Cumulative survival probability was 85%. Having experienced trauma related to war and violence was significantly associated with SSHB, HR: 7.05. No SSHB were recorded amongst subjects without substance abuse. CONCLUSIONS Migrants in custody who experienced trauma in the post-migration period, attempt SSHB seven times more frequently than those without traumas at any time. War trauma and post-migration trauma due to exposure to violence seem to be more strongly associated with SSHB, also controlling for psychiatric diagnosis, ongoing psychopharmacological therapy and substance abuse. Further research and possible intervention programs should focus on addressing post-migration living-difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Marchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Artoni
- Department of Mental Health, AUSL Modena, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fedora Longo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Maria Magarini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Aprile
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Debora Florio
- Department of Primary Care, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Gian Maria Galeazzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Silvia Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Franke I, Urwyler T, Prüter-Schwarte C. Assisted dying requests from people in detention: Psychiatric, ethical, and legal considerations-A literature review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:909096. [PMID: 35966491 PMCID: PMC9374168 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.909096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The principle of equivalence of care states that prisoners must have access to the same standard of health care as the general population. If, as recent court decisions suggest, assisted dying is not limited to people with a terminal physical illness or irremediable suffering, it might also be requested by people with severe mental illness in detention. Some of the countries with legal regulations on assisted dying also have recommendations on how to handle requests from prisoners. However, detention itself can lead to psychological distress and suicidality, so we must consider whether and how people in such settings can make autonomous decisions. Ethical conflicts arise with regard to an individual's free will, right to life, and physical and personal integrity and to the right of a state to inflict punishment. Furthermore, people in prison often receive insufficient mental health care. In this review, we compare different practices for dealing with requests for assisted dying from people in prison and forensic psychiatric facilities and discuss the current ethical and psychiatric issues concerning assisted dying in such settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Franke
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Psychiatric Services of Grisons, Chur, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Urwyler
- Office of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Research and Development, Zurich, Switzerland.,Faculty of Law, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.,Faculty of Law, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Prüter-Schwarte
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute for the History of Medicine and Medical Ethics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Social Philosophy and Ethics in the Health Sciences, University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, LVR Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Favril L, Yu R, Hawton K, Fazel S. Risk factors for self-harm in prison: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry 2020; 7:682-691. [PMID: 32711709 PMCID: PMC7606912 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-harm is a leading cause of morbidity in prisoners. Although a wide range of risk factors for self-harm in prisoners has been identified, the strength and consistency of effect sizes is uncertain. We aimed to synthesise evidence and assess the risk factors associated with self-harm inside prison. METHODS In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) for observational studies on risk factors for self-harm in prisoners published from database inception to Oct 31, 2019, supplemented through correspondence with authors of studies. We included primary studies involving adults sampled from general prison populations who self-harmed in prison and a comparison group without self-harm in prison. We excluded studies with qualitative or ecological designs, those that reported on lifetime measures of self-harm or on selected samples of prisoners, and those with a comparison group that was not appropriate or not based on general prison populations. Data were extracted from the articles and requested from study authors. Our primary outcome was the risk of self-harm for risk factors in prisoners. We pooled effect sizes as odds ratios (OR) using random effects models for each risk factor examined in at least three distinct samples. We assessed study quality on the basis of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and examined between-study heterogeneity. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42018087915. FINDINGS We identified 35 independent studies from 20 countries comprising a total of 663 735 prisoners, of whom 24 978 (3·8%) had self-harmed in prison. Across the 40 risk factors examined, the strongest associations with self-harm in prison were found for suicide-related antecedents, including current or recent suicidal ideation (OR 13·8, 95% CI 8·6-22·1; I2=49%), lifetime history of suicidal ideation (8·9, 6·1-13·0; I2=56%), and previous self-harm (6·6, 5·3-8·3; I2=55%). Any current psychiatric diagnosis was also strongly associated with self-harm (8·1, 7·0-9·4; I2=0%), particularly major depression (9·3, 2·9-29·5; I2=91%) and borderline personality disorder (9·2, 3·7-22·5; I2=81%). Prison-specific environmental risk factors for self-harm included solitary confinement (5·6, 2·7-11·6; I2=98%), disciplinary infractions (3·5, 1·2-9·7; I2=99%), and experiencing sexual or physical victimisation while in prison (3·2, 2·1-4·8; I2=44%). Sociodemographic (OR range 1·5-2·5) and criminological (1·8-2·3) factors were only modestly associated with self-harm in prison. We did not find clear evidence of publication bias. INTERPRETATION The wide range of risk factors across clinical and custody-related domains underscores the need for a comprehensive, prison-wide approach towards preventing self-harm in prison. This approach should incorporate both population and targeted strategies, with multiagency collaboration between the services for mental health, social care, and criminal justice having a key role. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Favril
- Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rongqin Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Keith Hawton
- Centre for Suicide Research, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Seena Fazel
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Favril L. Non-suicidal self-injury and co-occurring suicide attempt in male prisoners. Psychiatry Res 2019; 276:196-202. [PMID: 31102884 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High rates of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) are well documented in prisoners, however, few studies examined their co-occurrence in this high-risk population. Study participants were 1203 adult men randomly selected from 15 Belgian prisons, representing 12% of the national male prison population. Lifetime prevalence rates for NSSI and SA are 17% and 20% respectively, with half (55%) of self-injurers reporting a SA history. Bivariate analyses show that NSSI and SA are significantly related to one another, and many risk factors are common to both. Multivariate analysis comparing prisoners who engaged in NSSI with (n = 109) and without (n = 90) co-occurring SA indicates that suicidal ideation is the strongest independent correlate of SA among self-injurers. Additionally, relative to those with a history of NSSI only, prisoners with co-occurring NSSI and SA are significantly more likely to be violent offenders, being prescribed psychotropic medication, and report a psychiatric diagnosis; suggesting that they constitute a more clinically severe subgroup. Collectively, these findings highlight the marked overlap between NSSI and SA in prisoners, both in terms of prevalence and correlates, with suicidal ideation being an important predictor of suicide risk among self-injurers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Favril
- Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University, Belgium.
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Büsselmann M, Nigel S, Otte S, Lutz M, Franke I, Dudeck M, Streb J. High Quality of Life Reduces Depression, Hopelessness, and Suicide Ideations in Patients in Forensic Psychiatry. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:1014. [PMID: 32038334 PMCID: PMC6989536 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicides are more common in forensic patients than in the general population. Two reasons for this discrepancy are discussed: (1) Suicides are the consequence of maladaptation to the restrictive living conditions in forensic psychiatry, and (2) suicides are explained by the demographic, social, and psychosocial characteristics of the inmates themselves, i.e., suicides happen because the inmates belong to a particularly vulnerable group. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the relationship between quality of life, as an indicator of the restrictive living conditions, and hopelessness, depression, and suicide ideations in a sample of forensic patients. METHODS We assessed quality of life with a German version of the Measuring the Quality of Prison Life questionnaire that had been adapted to forensic hospitals (MQPL-forensic) and depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory, hopelessness with the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and suicide ideations with the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. The study included a total of 159 patients in 12 German forensic psychiatric hospitals who had been admitted in accordance with Section 64 of the German Criminal Code. We analyzed the relationships between quality of life and depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideations on the patient and hospital levels. Hospital characteristics were generated by aggregating the MQPL-forensic variables measured at the patient level. RESULTS In generalized estimating equation models, the MQPL-forensic total score and almost all the subscale scores were significant negative predictors of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and suicide ideations at the patient and hospital levels. At the patient level, patients who experienced a supportive welcome at the hospital, good relationships with their therapists, respectful interactions, transparent decisions, and supportive therapeutic approaches were significantly less depressed, less hopeless, and less likely to consider suicide. At the hospital level, good relationships with therapists and respectful interactions were significant negative predictors of these variables. DISCUSSION The results indicate that the social framework within forensic psychiatric hospitals influences the frequency of suicide ideation and the severity of depressive symptoms and hopelessness among forensic patients. Forensic-psychiatric hospitals should be aware of these significant relationships and try to improve patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Büsselmann
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefanie Nigel
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefanie Otte
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maximilian Lutz
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Irina Franke
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Psychiatric Services Graubuenden, Cazis, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Dudeck
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Judith Streb
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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