Core Features of Repeated Suicidal Behaviour: a Long-Term Follow-Up After Suicide Attempts in a low-Suicide-Incidence Population

This study examined repeated suicidal behaviour in a low-incidence population to elucidate robust risk factors. A cohort of first-ever attempters from 1960-1982 on the Faroe Islands was followed up for a minimum of 20 years. The incidence of suicidal behaviour for the cohort years was 37.9 per 100,000 per year. It was associated, as expected, with gender, age, residence, marital status, occupation, diagnosis, previous psychiatric admission, alcohol intoxication, & the method & planning of the act. Factors of the index episode predicting repetition at 5 years were gestures & alcohol intoxication & at 20 years were physical methods, suicide letter, & alcohol intoxication. (23 refs.) JA