Classification of attempted suicide by cluster analysis: a study of 888 suicide attempters presenting to the emergency department.
Abstract
Background It is essential to understand the latent structure of the population of suicide attempters for effective suicide prevention. The aim of this study was to identify subgroups among Korean suicide attempters in terms of the details of the suicide attempt.Methods A total of 888 people who attempted suicide and were subsequently treated in the emergency rooms of 17 medical centers between May and November of 2013 were included in the analysis. The variables assessed included demographic characteristics, clinical information, and details of the suicide attempt assessed by the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Cluster analysis was performed using the Ward method.Results Of the participants, 85.4% (n = 758) fell into a cluster characterized by less planning, low lethality methods, and ambivalence towards death ("impulsive"). The other cluster (n = 130) involved a more severe and well-planned attempt, used highly lethal methods, and took more precautions to avoid being interrupted ("planned"). The first cluster was dominated by women, while the second cluster was associated more with men, older age, and physical illness.Limitations We only included participants who visited the emergency department after their suicide attempt and had no missing values for SIS or C-SSRS.Conclusions Cluster analysis extracted two distinct subgroups of Korean suicide attempters showing different patterns of suicidal behaviors. Understanding that a significant portion of suicide attempts occur impulsively calls for new prevention strategies tailored to differing subgroup profiles.
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Feelings of ambivalence or internal conflict are common in the build up to and during suicidal crises.
“Feelings of ambivalence or internal conflict are common in the build up to and during suicidal crises.”
From The Psychological Pathway to Suicide Attempts: A Strategy of Control Without Awareness (2021) · cites this paper as Kim et al., 2018
In a sample of 888 attempters, 85.4% experienced ambivalence about whether they wanted to die.
“In a sample of 888 attempters, 85.4% experienced ambivalence about whether they wanted to die (Kim et al., 2018).”
From The Psychological Pathway to Suicide Attempts: A Strategy of Control Without Awareness (2021) · cites this paper as Kim et al., 2018
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Suicidal ambivalence: a scoping review
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The Psychological Pathway to Suicide Attempts: A Strategy of Control Without Awareness
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- Authors
- Kim, H., Kim, B., Kim, S. H., Park, C. H. K., Kim, E. Y., & Ahn, Y. M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Seoul National University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Ahn, Yong Min
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-08
- Volume
- 235
- Pages
- 184-190
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2795757371
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 3.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Keywords
- suicide attempts, impulsive suicide, suicide prevention, suicidal intent, suicide attempt lethality
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude to Death, Emergency Service, Hospital, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Middle Aged, Suicide, Attempted, Cluster Analysis, Republic of Korea, Suicidal Ideation
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