Takai M, Yamamoto K, Iwamitsu Y, Miyaji S, Yamamoto H, Tatematsu S, Yukawa M, Ide A, Kamijo Y, Soma K, Miyaoka H. Exploration of factors related to hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior.
Eur Psychiatry 2010;
25:409-13. [PMID:
20427155 DOI:
10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.10.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2009] [Revised: 10/16/2009] [Accepted: 10/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore factors associated with hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior in contemporary Japan.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted on medical records of 421 patients (174 male; 247 female) who were considered suicidal and treated at the Kitasato University Hospital Emergency Medical Center in Japan between January 2006 and March 2008. We compared hara-kiri and all other methods regarding sociodemographics and clinical features of all suicidal patients.
RESULTS
Instances of hara-kiri suicide attempt had the highest proportion of males (63%) among all suicide and suicidal behavior. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between hara-kiri and other suicide attempt methods in the age of the suicidal patients. Result of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that those who attempted hara-kiri suicide were likely to be male, be diagnosed with schizophrenia, survive, and be married.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior remains prevalent in Japan, and the study findings also suggest that both clinical and cultural factors might play a role in hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior.
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