Predictive scales for parasuicide repetition. Further results

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1979 Jan;59(1):17-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1979.tb06942.x.

Abstract

A six-item predictive scale for parasuicide repetition was retested on a second sample of Italian parasuicides. All the patients firstever admitted after a deliberate self-harm to the psychiatric department of a general hospital during the period April 1973-March 1976 were interviewed and followed-up after an interval of 1 year. The scale showed the same predictive power found in the first sample (1970-73) and gave a range of probability of repetition within 1 year of 15% at a score of 0 up to 44.8% at the scores 3, 4, 5, and 6. Moreover it discriminated between repeaters and non-repeaters at a significant level. Only two items (diagnosis of sociopathy and change of domicile in the last year) of the five items which discriminated repeaters from non-repeaters in the first study were still significantly associated with repetition, while four additional items (previous in-patient psychiatric treatment; previous parasuicide resulting in hospital admission; unemployment; criminal record) appeared as new discriminating factors. In spite of these changes the rate of repetition remained constant over the years at around 26%.

MeSH terms

  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Risk
  • Self-Injurious Behavior
  • Suicide, Attempted* / prevention & control