Brief report: Self-cutting and risk of subsequent suicide

Robert J Carroll; Kyla H Thomas; Katharine J Bramley; S Williams; Lucy J Griffin; John P Potokar; David Gunnell

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.007

Brief report: Self-cutting and risk of subsequent suicide

Robert J Carroll^*, Kyla H Thomas, Katharine J Bramley, S Williams, Lucy J Griffin, John P Potokar, David Gunnell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

467 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background

Some studies suggest that people who self-cut have a higher risk of suicide than those who self-poison. Self-cutting ranges from superficial wrist cutting to severe self-injury involving areas such as the chest, abdomen and neck which can be life threatening. This study aimed to investigate whether the site of self-cutting was associated with risk of subsequent suicide.

Methods

We followed-up 3928 people who presented to hospital following self-harm between September 2010 and December 2013 in a prospective cohort study based on the Bristol Self-harm Surveillance Register. Demographic information from these presentations was linked with coroner’s data to identify subsequent suicides.

Results

People who presented with self-cutting to areas other than the arm/wrist were at increased risk of suicide compared to those who self-poisoned (HR 4.31, 95% CI 1.27 to 14.63, p=0.029) and this increased risk remained after controlling for age, sex, history of previous self-harm and psychiatric diagnosis (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.50 to 13.25, p<0.001). We observed no such increased risk in people presenting with cutting to the arm/wrist.

Limitations

These data represent the experience of one city in the UK and may not be generalisable outside of this context. Furthermore, as suicide is a rare outcome the precision of our estimates is limited.

Conclusions

Site of self-injury may be an important risk factor for subsequent suicide.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8-10
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume	192
Early online date	10 Dec 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.007
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2016

Research Groups and Themes

SASH

Keywords

Self harm
Attempted suicide
Psychiatric epidemiology;
Risk factors
Methods of Self harm
Suicide

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.007

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Accepted author manuscript, 388 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Brief report: Self-cutting and risk of subsequent suicide",

abstract = "BackgroundSome studies suggest that people who self-cut have a higher risk of suicide than those who self-poison. Self-cutting ranges from superficial wrist cutting to severe self-injury involving areas such as the chest, abdomen and neck which can be life threatening. This study aimed to investigate whether the site of self-cutting was associated with risk of subsequent suicide.MethodsWe followed-up 3928 people who presented to hospital following self-harm between September 2010 and December 2013 in a prospective cohort study based on the Bristol Self-harm Surveillance Register. Demographic information from these presentations was linked with coroner{\textquoteright}s data to identify subsequent suicides.ResultsPeople who presented with self-cutting to areas other than the arm/wrist were at increased risk of suicide compared to those who self-poisoned (HR 4.31, 95% CI 1.27 to 14.63, p=0.029) and this increased risk remained after controlling for age, sex, history of previous self-harm and psychiatric diagnosis (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.50 to 13.25, p<0.001). We observed no such increased risk in people presenting with cutting to the arm/wrist.LimitationsThese data represent the experience of one city in the UK and may not be generalisable outside of this context. Furthermore, as suicide is a rare outcome the precision of our estimates is limited.ConclusionsSite of self-injury may be an important risk factor for subsequent suicide.",

keywords = "Self harm, Attempted suicide, Psychiatric epidemiology;, Risk factors, Methods of Self harm, Suicide",

author = "Carroll, {Robert J} and Thomas, {Kyla H} and Bramley, {Katharine J} and S Williams and Griffin, {Lucy J} and Potokar, {John P} and David Gunnell",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.007",

language = "English",

volume = "192",

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journal = "Journal of Affective Disorders",

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T1 - Brief report

T2 - Self-cutting and risk of subsequent suicide

AU - Carroll, Robert J

AU - Thomas, Kyla H

AU - Bramley, Katharine J

AU - Williams, S

AU - Griffin, Lucy J

AU - Potokar, John P

AU - Gunnell, David

PY - 2016/3/1

Y1 - 2016/3/1

N2 - BackgroundSome studies suggest that people who self-cut have a higher risk of suicide than those who self-poison. Self-cutting ranges from superficial wrist cutting to severe self-injury involving areas such as the chest, abdomen and neck which can be life threatening. This study aimed to investigate whether the site of self-cutting was associated with risk of subsequent suicide.MethodsWe followed-up 3928 people who presented to hospital following self-harm between September 2010 and December 2013 in a prospective cohort study based on the Bristol Self-harm Surveillance Register. Demographic information from these presentations was linked with coroner’s data to identify subsequent suicides.ResultsPeople who presented with self-cutting to areas other than the arm/wrist were at increased risk of suicide compared to those who self-poisoned (HR 4.31, 95% CI 1.27 to 14.63, p=0.029) and this increased risk remained after controlling for age, sex, history of previous self-harm and psychiatric diagnosis (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.50 to 13.25, p<0.001). We observed no such increased risk in people presenting with cutting to the arm/wrist.LimitationsThese data represent the experience of one city in the UK and may not be generalisable outside of this context. Furthermore, as suicide is a rare outcome the precision of our estimates is limited.ConclusionsSite of self-injury may be an important risk factor for subsequent suicide.

AB - BackgroundSome studies suggest that people who self-cut have a higher risk of suicide than those who self-poison. Self-cutting ranges from superficial wrist cutting to severe self-injury involving areas such as the chest, abdomen and neck which can be life threatening. This study aimed to investigate whether the site of self-cutting was associated with risk of subsequent suicide.MethodsWe followed-up 3928 people who presented to hospital following self-harm between September 2010 and December 2013 in a prospective cohort study based on the Bristol Self-harm Surveillance Register. Demographic information from these presentations was linked with coroner’s data to identify subsequent suicides.ResultsPeople who presented with self-cutting to areas other than the arm/wrist were at increased risk of suicide compared to those who self-poisoned (HR 4.31, 95% CI 1.27 to 14.63, p=0.029) and this increased risk remained after controlling for age, sex, history of previous self-harm and psychiatric diagnosis (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.50 to 13.25, p<0.001). We observed no such increased risk in people presenting with cutting to the arm/wrist.LimitationsThese data represent the experience of one city in the UK and may not be generalisable outside of this context. Furthermore, as suicide is a rare outcome the precision of our estimates is limited.ConclusionsSite of self-injury may be an important risk factor for subsequent suicide.

KW - Self harm

KW - Attempted suicide

KW - Psychiatric epidemiology;

KW - Risk factors

KW - Methods of Self harm

KW - Suicide

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JO - Journal of Affective Disorders

JF - Journal of Affective Disorders

ER -

Brief report: Self-cutting and risk of subsequent suicide

Abstract

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Professor Kyla H Thomas

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Brief report: Self-cutting and risk of subsequent suicide

Abstract

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Profiles

Professor Kyla H Thomas

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