Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Lifetime Suicide Attempts in the National Comorbidity Survey

General population survey data are presented on the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts as well as transition probabilites to onset of ideation, plans among ideators, & attempts among ideators either with or without a plan. Risk factors for these transitions were also studied. Of the respondents (n=5877), 13.5% reported lifetime ideation, 3.9% a plan, & 4.6% an attempt. About 90% of unplanned & 60% of planned first attempts occurred within 1 year of the onset of ideation. All significant risk factors were more strongly related to ideation than to progression from ideation to a plan or attempt. Prevention efforts should focus on planned attempts because of the rapid onset & unpredictability of unplanned attempts. More research is needed on the determinants of unplanned attempts. (57 refs.)