Family History of Suicidal Behaviour: Prevalence and Significance in Deliberate Self-Harm Patients

In 146 deliberate self-harm patients, those with & without a positive family history were compared with regard to the nature & repetition of their deliberate self-harm episodes & psychological & psychiatric characteristics. 52 patients had a family history of suicidal behaviour. Deliberate self-harm was more frequent in patients’ mothers than fathers. Patients with a family history of suicidal behaviour, especially females, had higher state anger scores. Family history of suicidal behaviour appears to be associated with greater anger. Absence of other associations suggests that family history probably has less implication for individuals who have already engaged in deliberate self-harm than in contributing to its initiation. (43 refs)