Presumptive Stressful Life Events and Psycho-Socio-Demographic Determinants in Attempted Suicide: A Comparative Study
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Research Professionals - Year 2018, Vol 4, Issue 3
Abstract
Background: Attempted suicide is a common clinical problem seen in a general Hospital setting. There are 10-20 times as many suicide attempts as suicidal death. People with psychiatric illness have tenfold increase risk of suicide compared to people without illness. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict suicidal behaviour with certainty however, the relationship between experience of problematic stressful life events and suicidal behavior has been well recognized. Objectives: To study the socio demographic variables, Psychiatric disorder, precipitating life events, and mode of attempts in suicide attempters and those with suicidal ideation in a general hospital. Setting and Design: A comparative study of 12 month duration, undertaken in the Department of Psychiatry, Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim from August 2014 to July 2015. Materials and Methods: Cases were recruited from Psychiatry OPD, indoor admission and casualty of STNM hospital presenting with suicidal attempts. For each suicidal attempters recruited in the study, the next consecutive subjects presenting in the Psychiatry OPD with manifest suicidal ideation was incorporated for a comparison. Total 94 subjects were enrolled, 47 patients each with suicidal ideation and attempts. They were evaluated using pretested, self-administered Performa with variables including education, socio-economic status, occupation, age, gender, precipitating life events, family background and mode of attempts. Subjects were diagnosed on the basis of ICD 10 and were assessed on HAM-D for major depression, Suicide Intent Questionnaire for suicidal intent and Gurmeet Singh’s presumptive stressful life events for assessing life events. Results: Males were found more involved in suicidal attempts (51.1%) and ideation (63.8%) as compared to females (48.9% & 36.2%) with peak occurrences of suicidal attempts in second and third decades (20-29 years) of life. Majority (70.2%) of attempters and those with suicidal ideation (59.6%) were having education below metric and were mostly married {(59.6%) & (83%)}. Significant numbers represented from the nuclear family, Hindu by religion mostly unemployed and from a rural background. Family history of psychiatric illness (10.6%) and past attempts (21.3%) were noted in attempters with (85.1%) of them having a psychiatric diagnosis. Hanging were the main mode of suicide attempts (31.9%) followed by drug over dosage (21.3%). Majority of the attempters experienced more life events prior to suicide attempt than those with ideation. The common precipitating life event was disturbed spousal and family relationship. Similarly suicide attempters had higher score on Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) and Suicide Intent Questionnaire (SIQ) Score compared to those with ideation. Conclusion: Suicide attempters were young adults, having low educational achievements with higher prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and precipitating stressful life events, hence early identification and treatment of psychiatric disorders would have prevented morbidity and mortality associated with suicide. Timely implementation of preventive and strategic measures to reduce the incidence of suicide is the need of an hour.
Authors and Affiliations
C. L. Pradhan
Keywords
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- EP ID EP531965
- DOI 10.21276/ijmrp.2018.4.3.033
- Views 92
- Downloads 0
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