The Co-occurrence of Non-suicidal Self-injury and Attempted Suicide Among Adolescents Hospitalized in Clinic for Mental Disorders “Dr Laza Lazarevic”

Abstract

Introduction

The phenomenon of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as an act of deliberate destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent is common in adolescence. NSSI and suicide attempts (SA), although distinct behaviors differing in intent, form and function, often co-occur in the same individual.

Objective and aims

Recent studies investigate the association between SA and NSSI among adolescent, as well as risk factors associated with these phenomenon. We investigated the co-ccurrence of NSSI and SA among adolescents treated in hospital during the previous year.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study among hospitalized adolescents in the Clinic for mental disorde “Dr Laza Lazarevic”, aged 14 to 18 years, in the period from 01.01.2015 to 01.01.2016. The data were obtained from clinical interviews of patients.

Results

Study included 146 adolescents, 51.4% male and 48.6% female, average age 15.5. We found a statistically significant difference of NSSI (c² = 9.951, P = 0.002, phi = 0.276) and SA (c² = 4.517, P = 0.034, fi = 0.192) among female adolescent. The co-occurrence of NSSI and SA was found in 4.8% of adolescents, which does not indicate a statistically significant difference (c² = 1.009, P = 0.315, phi = –0.101) compared to the total population of hospitalized adolescents.

Conclusion

Although our study did not confirmed a higher incidence of SA in adolescent with NSSI, understanding of what percentage of those engaging in NSSI also make SA, and how they are related have great significance in their prevention taking into account the dangerousness and lethality of those behavior.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.