Anbazhagan G1, Shanmugapriya A. R2, V. P. Kannan
BACKGROUND
Attempted Suicide is 8-10 times higher than the number of successful suicides. The suicide risk among persons who attempted suicide is forty times higher than in the general population and the risk persist for many years. Attempted suicide is much more common in young adults due to biological, psychological and social factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross sectional analytical study involving a sample of 30 in the age group 17-40 years who attempted suicide for the first time. Semi-structured socio-demographic proforma, ICD-10 International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE), Beck’s Suicide Intent Scale, Holmes and Rahe Stress scales, were administered. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, Student T test, were used to analyse the data.
RESULTS
Among this sample of 30, 18(60%) were in the age group of 17–24 years. Females (84%) outnumbered males (16%). Majority of the suicide attempters 19 (63.3%) belonged to the upper lower socio- economic status. 70% of the cases were from rural areas. The commonest mode of suicide attempt was by consuming poison 96.6%. 8 (26.7%) were found to have a definite personality disorder. Among those 8 cases, 5 (16.7%) were found to have Anankastic Personality Disorder, 2 (6.7%) were found to have Dependent Personality Disorder and 1 (3.3%) person qualified for Borderline Personality Disorder Impulsive subtype. 3 (10%) persons were found to have medium suicide intent whereas 7 (23.3%) had low intent. On assessing their stress level, 3 (10%) people had moderate risk whereas 12 (40%) had slightest risk for developing illnesses. On comparing the scores of Holmes Rahe Stress scores of the 17-24 age groups and 25-34 age groups, the p value was 0.010 which was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Similar to suicide, attempted suicide is much more common in the 15-34 age groups. The reason being, various biological changes take place within their body system, development of one’s personality and the psychosocial stressor events they undergo. In order to prevent Suicide, it is absolutely necessary to identify those risk factors in such biologically vulnerable group.
