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Cited by 116Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbuseOpioid Use Disorder Treatment

Repetition of Deliberate Self‐Harm: A Study of the Characteristics and Subsequent Deaths in Patients Presenting to a General Hospital According to Extent of Repetition

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Haw, Camilla, Bergen, Helen, Casey, Deborah, Hawton, Keith·2007·Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
DOI 10.1521/suli.2007.37.4.379
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Abstract

Repetition of deliberate self‐harm (DSH) is common. Some patients repeat multiple times. We have investigated the characteristics of repeaters, and mortality in three groups of DSH patients by repetition status. Data collected by the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide were used to examine the pattern of repetition of DSH patients presenting to a general hospital between 1990 and 1997. Each patient was tracked through the monitoring system with regard to repetition. Patients traceable through National Death Registers were followed up until 2000 with respect to mortality. A total of 4,167 patients were studied of which 1,022 (24.5%) repeated at least once during follow‐up. Using multinomial regression, past history of DSH was the variable most strongly associated with frequent (4+) and less frequent (1–3) repetitions. Risk of suicide was significantly increased in females with frequent repetition (7.7% dying by suicide), compared with both those with 1–3 repetitions (2.3%) and those not repeating (1.0%). The analyses were repeated for the 2,167 patients with no past history of DSH at their first presentation. Using multinomial regression, personality disorder was the only variable that was associated with 4+ repetitions compared with no repetitions, although a number of variables distinguished between patients with 1–3 repetitions and no repeat episodes. For clinicians assessing DSH patients, past history of DSH is the best predictor of infrequent and frequent repetition. In patients with no past history of DSH the presence of personality disorder increases the risk of frequent repetition of DSH.

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  • Multiple past attempts are an especially strong predictor of lethal suicidal behavior in both adolescents and adults.

    “The presence of multiple past attempts is an especially strong predictor of lethal suicidal behavior in both adolescents (Kotila & Lonnqvist, 1987) and adults (Christiansen & Jensen, 2007; Haw, Bergen, Casey, & Hawton, 2007; Suominen, Isometsa, Haukka, & Lonnqvist, 2004; Zonda, 2006)”

    From The interpersonal theory of suicide. (2010) · cites this paper as Haw, Bergen, Casey, & Hawton, 2007

    The Results report that suicide or probable suicide was more frequent as the number of self-harm repetitions increased in the cohort. But the paper says this pattern for frequent repetition was found in females, not males; it also measures repetitions during follow-up rather than establishing multiple past attempts as an especially strong predictor. Haw et al. is cited for the adult portion of the sentence, not the adolescent portion. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Haw, C., Bergen, H., Casey, D., & Hawton, K.
Affiliations
  • St Andrew's Healthcare (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Warneford Hospital (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-08
Volume
37
Issue
4
Pages
379-396
ISSN
  • 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
  • 1943-278X
DOI
10.1521/suli.2007.37.4.379
OpenAlex
W2095468124
Cited by
116
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 10
FWCI
7.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1248 d)
Locations
  • Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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
self-harm, suicide attempts, mortality, suicide risk, personality disorders, sex differences
MeSH terms
Adult, Mental Disorders, Cause of Death, Female, Follow-Up Studies, United Kingdom, Hospitalization, Hospitals, General, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Personality Disorders, Recurrence, Registries, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Suicide, Attempted, Comorbidity, Self-Injurious Behavior

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