The present study attempted to identify demographic and psychological variables predictive of adolescent suicidal ideations and attempts. Data from 90 adolescents, who completed an intake form at a university community mental health clinic or were student volunteers, were utilized. Two judges tabulated information regarding age, gender, number of siblings, ethnicity, parental marital status, drug use, depression, suicidal ideation, and previous suicidal attempts. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify which variables had predictive significance. Depression was the best predictor of both suicidal ideations and attempts. Ethnicity was also predictive; white adolescents were found to be at higher risk for suicide than individuals from other ethnic groups. It is suggested that additional studies be done exploring other predictors of suicide among adolescents.

Bakgrund: Suicidförsök är en medveten handling som görs för att avsluta livet. Detta är ett växande folkhälsoproblem i Sverige men även i världen. Sjuksköterskor i den somatiska akutsjukvården vårdar dessa patienter. Det är viktigt att som sjuksköterska ha kunskap och kunna bemöta dessa patienter för att kunna ge god vård och förebygga ytterligare suicidförsök.  Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka sjuksköterskors upplevelser av det vårdande mötet inom den somatiska akutsjukvården med patienter som utfört ett suicidförsök. Metod: En kvalitativ intervjustudie med induktiv ansats användes. Nio semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Etikkommittén Sydost har rådfrågats innan studien genomfördes.  Resultat: Den somatiska akutsjukvården upplevdes inte optimal för patienter som utfört ett suicidförsök och patienterna ansågs inte få optimal vård. Patienter som utfört ett suicidförsök beskrevs som vanligt förekommande och sjuksköterskans bemötande och kommunikation var av betydelse. Känslor såsom otillräcklighet, maktlöshet och hopplöshet kunde uppkomma hos sjuksköterskan. Upplevelserna kunde variera beroende på olika faktorer såsom arbetsmiljö, patientens ålder, patientens beteende och anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornas upplevelse varierade även beroende på vilken kompetensnivå de hade. Erfarenheter och utbildningar bidrog till sjuksköterskornas kompetensutveckling inom ämnet. Slutsats: Den somatiska akutsjukvården borde bli bättre på att vårda patienten i sin helhet och inte endast det somatiska vilket kräver förändringar i verksamheten. Avsaknaden av utbildning inom ämnet leder till att sjuksköterskorna upplever vårdandet begränsande och utmanande. En mer kompetent sjukvårdspersonal kan leda till bättre förebyggande arbete vilket kan leda till minskad psykisk ohälsa och få positiva konsekvenser i hela samhället. / Background: Suicide attempt is a conscious act done with the goal of ending their life. Suicide is a growing public health problem in Sweden but also globally. As a nurse in the somatic emergency department you meet these patient. It is important that the nurse have the knowledge to care and meet these patients in order to provide good care and prevent further suicide attempts.  Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine nurses experiences of the caring meeting in the somatic emergency department with patients who have performed a suicide attempt. Method: A qualitative interview study with an inductive approach was used. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed with a qualitative content analysis. The Southeast Ethics Committee has been consulted before the study was conducted. Results: The somatic emergency department was not considered optimally for patients who had performed a suicide attempt and the patients were not considered to receive optimal care. Patients who had carried out a suicide attempt were described as common and that the nurse´s approach and communication were of importance. The nurses could have feelings such as insufficiency, powerlessness and hopelessness. The experiences of the care could vary depending on various factors such as the patients age, patients behaviour and relatives. The nurses experience varied depending on the level of knowledge they had. Experience and training increased the nurses competence development about the subject. Conclusion: The somatic emergency department should be better at caring for the patient as a whole and not only the medical care and this requires a change in the department. The lack of knowledge in mental illness causes the nurses to feel that the care is limiting and challenging. Competent healthcare personnel can lead to preventative work in the subject, which can lead to reduced mental illness and have positive consequences throughout the society.

Suicidality and self-harm behaviors among sex offenders remain underreported in the clinical literature and are often misunderstood in this complex population. The present study aims to identify rates of suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviors in a sample of 1,184 psychiatric inpatients, 462 of whom are sexual offenders. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in history of suicide attempts and self-harm behaviors, with sexual offenders evidencing greater rates of both. Significant psychiatric correlates of suicide attempts and self-harm behaviors among sex offenders varied by group and included a variety of psychiatric symptom presentations. These are compared with the general literature on suicide risk and the sex offender population. Implications for treatment of these behaviors in a sex offender population are discussed.

Prior research has established that a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of suicide behavior. Few studies have examined the role of specific PTSD symptom clusters and suicide attempts. The current study is among a handful of studies that have examined the association between the presence of PTSD symptom clusters and suicide attempts among Veterans with PTSD and/or TBI. The study utilized archival data from a sample of 137 Veterans receiving mental health treatment at the Denver Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that PTSD symptom clusters were not associated with an increased risk for suicide behavior among individuals with and without a history of TBI. Results suggest that looking at the presence of PTSD symptoms is not sufficient to account for the risk of suicide behavior. Clinical and research implications on the need to examine the role of PTSD symptom severity and suicide behavior are discussed.

Among indigenous populations, there is significant evidence that the rates of completed suicide are much higher than in the general population. The current study examines whether the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation, plans and attempts differ when comparing an American Indian reservation sample to a US general population sample. Data were from the National Comorbidity Survey (n = 5,877) and the American Indian Service Utilization, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors Project (N = 3,084). The current findings indicate that there are few differences in the likelihood of suicidal behavior in conjunction with particular disorders or traumas. However, American Indians appeared more likely to make a suicide attempt and less likely to have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime when compared with the general population. Although preliminary and exploratory, findings provide evidence that suicide interventions for indigenous populations may require modification based on differential risk factors for suicide. / October 2008

Σκοπός: Έχει αναφερθεί προηγούμενα η ύπαρξη συννοσηρότητας της αυτοκτονικής συμπεριφοράς με ποικίλους παράγοντες κινδύνου. Αυτή η μελέτη ερευνά την ύπαρξη προεξαρχόντων παραγόντων κινδύνου σε νέους με απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας που έχουν νοσηλευθεί και την επίδραση αυτών των παραγόντων στον κίνδυνο για αυτοκτονία τόσο ανεξάρτητα όσο και σε συνδυασμό μεταξύ τους. Εκτιμήθηκαν η ύπαρξη ψυχιατρικής διαταραχής, η κατανάλωση καφέ και η λήψη αλκοόλ στους νέους με απόπειρα, η χρήση καπνού στα άτομα με απόπειρα και τους γονείς τους, καθώς επίσης και οι άλλες καταστάσεις που αποτελούν εστία κλινικής προσοχής και τα ψυχοκοινωνικά και περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα των ασθενών με απόπειρα. Μέθοδος: Εξετάστηκαν διαγνωστικά 76 άτομα που νοσηλεύονταν για απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας ηλικίας 9-20 χρόνων, καθώς επίσης και 76 μάρτυρες που ταίριαξαν στην ηλικία, με βάση τα κριτήρια του DSM-IV Axis I και ΙΙ και έδωσαν συνέντευξη για την χρήση νόμιμων και παράνομων ουσιών. Επίσης, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν 18 μάρτυρες με τις ίδιες ψυχιατρικές παθήσεις που διεγνώσθησαν σ’ αυτούς με απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας, οι οποίοι εξετάστηκαν με βάση τα κριτήρια του DSM-IV και έδωσαν συνέντευξη για την χρήση νόμιμων και παράνομων ουσιών. Η στατιστική ανάλυση παλινδρόμησης/εξάρτησης εφαρμόστηκε για να προσδιορίσει το ανεξάρτητο αποτέλεσμα των παραγόντων κινδύνου πάνω στις απόπειρες αυτοκτονίας. Αποτελέσματα: Τα ευρήματα δείχνουν μεγαλύτερη συχνότητα των παραγόντων κινδύνου στους ασθενείς με απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας, παρά στους μάρτυρες. Συγκεκριμένα, υπήρξε 18 φορές μεγαλύτερη συχνότητα των ψυχιατρικών παθήσεων στους ασθενείς με απόπειρα σε σχέση με τους κοινοτικούς μάρτυρες, 14 φορές μεγαλύτερη συχνότητα των άλλων καταστάσεων που αποτελούν εστία κλινικής προσοχής, ήταν 9.7 φορές πιο συχνό το κάπνισμα ανάμεσα σ’ αυτούς με απόπειρα σε σχέση με τους κοινοτικούς μάρτυρες και 4.7 φορές πιο συχνά τα ψυχοκοινωνικά και περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα. Το αποτέλεσμα της στατιστικής ανάλυσης είναι ότι οι προεξέχοντες παράγοντες κινδύνου, ως ανεξάρτητες μεταβλητές, συνδέονται με την εξαρτώμενη μεταβλητή που είναι η απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας με τρόπο ανεξάρτητο κι αυτή η ανεξάρτητη σύνδεση επιμένει και μετά την προσαρμογή για το αποτέλεσμα άλλων παραγόντων. Συμπέρασμα: Η μελέτη καταλήγει στο συμπέρασμα ότι η ψυχοπαθολογία, οι ψυχοκοινωνικοί παράγοντες και το κάπνισμα είναι ανεξάρτητα συνδεδεμένοι παράγοντες με αυξανόμενο κίνδυνο για σοβαρή απόπειρα αυτοκτονίας. / Background: Comorbidity of suicidal behavior with various risk factors has been reported. This study examines the combined effect and the interactions of the most prominent risk factors in hospitalized suicide attempters. The existence of psychiatric disorder, coffee and alcohol consumption in suicide attempters, cigarette smoking in suicide attempters and their parents, as well as other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention and psychosocial and environmental problems of the attempters were surveyed in this study. Method: Seventy-six successive hospitalized suicide attempters and 76 matched controls, 9-20 year-old, were subjected to DSM-IV Axis I and II diagnoses and were interviewed for the use of licit and illicit substances. Also, 18 controls with the same psychiatric disorders diagnosed in the attempters were used. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the independent effect of the risk factors to suicide attempts. Results: The findings showed an 18-fold greater frequency of psychiatric disorders, a 14-fold greater frequency of other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention (mainly relational problems), a 9.7-fold greater frequency of smoking, and a 4.7-fold greater frequency of psychosocial and environmental problems in the attempters than in the controls. The independent association of these factors with increased suicide risk persisted after adjusting for the effect of other factors. Conclusions: Psychopathology, psychosocial factors and smoking are independently associated with increased risk for serious suicide attempts.

Among indigenous populations, there is significant evidence that the rates of completed suicide are much higher than in the general population. The current study examines whether the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation, plans and attempts differ when comparing an American Indian reservation sample to a US general population sample. Data were from the National Comorbidity Survey (n = 5,877) and the American Indian Service Utilization, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors Project (N = 3,084). The current findings indicate that there are few differences in the likelihood of suicidal behavior in conjunction with particular disorders or traumas. However, American Indians appeared more likely to make a suicide attempt and less likely to have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime when compared with the general population. Although preliminary and exploratory, findings provide evidence that suicide interventions for indigenous populations may require modification based on differential risk factors for suicide.

Among indigenous populations, there is significant evidence that the rates of completed suicide are much higher than in the general population. The current study examines whether the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation, plans and attempts differ when comparing an American Indian reservation sample to a US general population sample. Data were from the National Comorbidity Survey (n = 5,877) and the American Indian Service Utilization, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors Project (N = 3,084). The current findings indicate that there are few differences in the likelihood of suicidal behavior in conjunction with particular disorders or traumas. However, American Indians appeared more likely to make a suicide attempt and less likely to have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime when compared with the general population. Although preliminary and exploratory, findings provide evidence that suicide interventions for indigenous populations may require modification based on differential risk factors for suicide.

Finding an indicator that can point to a high risk group for suicide has long been a desirable aid for the prevention of completed suicides. The studies reviewed in this essay presume that a biological aspect can point out the high risk individual. The focus of the studies lies on the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) monoamine neurotransmitter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) which is the principal metabolite of 5-HT in depression. The studies on 5-HT metabolites have led to the belief that these may play a key role in the neurochemistry of suicidal behaviour. It is suggested that the core behavioural effect of low CSF 5-HIAA concentration might result in an increase in impulsive and violent behaviour to self and others. The predictability is based on the fact that patients with low CSF 5-HIAA are more prone to reattempt and complete suicide by violent means. A number of well-designed studies concerning suicidal individuals and control subjects have however not shown any difference in concentration of CSF 5-HIAA in suicide attempters compared to non-suicide attempters which could be explained by methodological flaws. Low CSF 5-HIAA does seem to characterize the high risk individual, but it is not yet determined what role it plays in actual suicidality.

Bakgrund: Suicid innebär att en människa avsiktligt och självförvållat skadar sig vilket leder till döden. Snabba och oförväntat försämrade tillstånd och död kan upplevas som oro och stress hos sjuksköterskan. Samtidigt är det sjuksköterskans plikt att möta, samtala och tolka patienten då det är i vårdrelationen en förståelse kan skapas för patientens suicidtankar. Attityder, kontext, tolkning av människosyn präglas av hur sjuksköterskans förhåller sig till den suicidala patienten. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva sjuksköterskors upplevelser och erfarenheter i relation till suicid och den suicidnära patienten. Metod: En systematisk integrativ litteraturöversikt har använts som metod. Både kvantitativa och kvalitativa artiklar har hämtats från databaserna Cinahl, PubMed och PsycInfo. Totalt inkluderades 13 artiklar i resultatet. Resultat: Tre huvudteman teman framkom i resultatet, Sjuksköterskans känslor i mötet med suicid, närhet och distans, samt att förstå suicidhandlingen. Känslor av skuld beskrevs som en konsekvent genomgående i mötet med den suicidala patienten. Även svårigheter i att reglera närhet och distans till patienten medförde en obalans i att distansera sig kontra att närma sig i mötet. Kontext och sociokulturell tillhörighet påverkade relationen mellan sjuksköterskan och patienten. Diskussion: I resultatdiskussionen har delar av resultatet diskuterats utifrån Patrica Benners omvårdnadsteori, det femte och sista stadiet. Det är viktigt att erbjuda sjuksköterskans möjlighet till vidare utbildning i bemötandet men också i de egna psykologiska processer som mötet med negativa känslor och eventuella trauma kan innebära. / Background: Suicide means that a person intentionally and self-inflicted injures himself, which leads to death. Rapid and unexpectedly worsening conditions and deaths can be experienced as nurses' anxiety and stress. At the same time, it is the nurse's duty to meet, talk and interpret the patient as it is in the care relationship that an understanding can be created for the patient's suicidal thoughts. Attitudes, context, interpretation of human view are characterized by how the nurse's attitude to the suicidal patient. Aim: To describe nurses' experiences and experiences in relation to suicide and the suicidal patient. Method: A systematic integrative literature review has been selected. Both quantitative and qualitative articles have been used from the databases Cinahl, Pubmed and PsycInfo Knalf's integrative. Theoretical starting point was based on Patricia Benner's nursing theory where Benner's last and fifth stages were discussed. Results: Three main themes emerged in the result, Nurse's feelings in the meeting with suicide, proximity and distance, and understanding the suicide act. Feelings of guilt were described as consistent throughout the encounter with the suicidal patient. Difficulties in regulating proximity and distance to the patient also led to an imbalance in distancing versus approaching the meeting. Context and sociocultural belonging influenced the relationship between the nurse and the patient. Conclusions: In the result discussion, parts of the result have been discussed based on Patrica Benner's nursing theory, the fifth and last stage. It is important to offer the nurse's opportunity for further education in the treatment, but also in the own psychological processes that the encounter with negative emotions and possible trauma can entail.