EPA-1070 – Suicide Attempts and “Body-Art”: is there any Correlation? A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Introduction:

Body- art is associated with an increased risk of self- harming behaviours and suicide attempts (SA) in adolescents, but there is no concluding evidence for adults yet.

Objectives:

We investigate the relationship between ‘body art’ (i.e. tattoos, piercings) and SA in adult patients.

Methods:

All patients admitted to the Psychiatric Clinic of Genoa for a SA between October 2012 - January 2013 were enrolled. Age, gender, education, previous SA, psychiatric diagnosis were analyzed. The patients underwent first a clinical interview where the presence of body-art, type, number, location, time between its performance and previous or present SA were assessed along with its meaning for the patient, then SCID I & II.

Results:

44 patients were enrolled (24 females). Mean age 47 years. 26 had at least a tattoo, among them six females. Eight had at least one piercing, of whom six were females. 58,3% had a diagnosis of MDD, 41.6% of PD (BPD 72%;NPD 34%; OCPD 42%; PPD 23%). 75% of patients with more than one tattoo had a diagnosis in both axes and attempted suicide more than once. These results show that 40% of our sample has a tattoo and one third a piercing, which presence in the same-age American population is estimated to be 26%. However, these results have a limited statistical significance because of the small sample size.

Conclusion:

These results suggest a particular mind-body bond which would correlate SA and body art in adult patients, while previous studies found such evidences only in the adolescent population.