Repeated suicide attempts among suicidal cases: Outcome of one-year follow-up

Introduction: To assess the mortality rates and risk factors involved in repeated suicide attempts. Methods: Patients with a record of suicidal attempts were recruited from the emergency department of a medical center in Taiwan from August 2004 to July 2006. Their conditions were prospectively monitored for 12 months. The suicidal intention of the patients was ascertained using structured interview questions while their psychiatric diagnosis and depressive symptoms were assessed through the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Results: A total of 46 males and 99 females were recruited and 70% (n=102) of them were successfully monitored for one year. Among them, 38.2% had repeated suicide attempt(s) and 3.4% died as a result of suicide. Severe depression, aggression and positive suicide ideation were significantly associated with the repeated suicide attempts. Pessimistic repeaters had more previous suicide attempt(s) than the others. Conclusion: A higher rate of repeated suicide attempts and mortality rates were found among suicide attempters from the one-year outcome. Repeated suicide attempts increased the risk of mortality while persevering suicide thoughts and previous suicide attempts were risks for repeated suicidal behavior.