Meehan P J, Lamb J A, Saltzman L E, O'Carroll P W
Division of Injury Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta.
Am J Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;149(1):41-4. doi: 10.1176/ajp.149.1.41.
The results of epidemiologic surveys on attempted suicide are often difficult to interpret; they compare and provide varying estimates of the prevalence of attempted suicide. The authors sought to estimate the prevalence of attempted suicide in a young adult population and to define more precisely what respondents mean when they report a suicide attempt.
Survey respondents were a representative sample of all 18-24-year-old freshman students at a major public university. The self-administered, anonymous survey included questions about suicidal thoughts and behaviors and about any injury and need for medical care resulting from reported attempts.
Of the 694 respondents, 374 (54%) reported having ever considered suicide and 181 (26%) had considered suicide during the preceding 12 months. Thirteen (2%) students reported having attempted suicide during the preceding 12 months, and 72 (10%) reported ever having attempted suicide. The number of students answering affirmatively to questions about injuries sustained, medical care sought, and hospitalization as a result of attempted suicide decreased progressively: only 18 (3%) students reported having ever sought medical care due to a suicide attempt, and seven (1%) were ever hospitalized.
The prevalence of self-reported attempted suicide is not representative of the prevalence of self-injury and provides little information concerning the seriousness of the attempt. The use of specific questions similar to those used in this study should be considered in future surveys.
自杀未遂的流行病学调查结果往往难以解读；这些调查比较并给出了关于自杀未遂患病率的不同估计值。作者试图估计年轻成年人群中自杀未遂的患病率，并更准确地界定受访者报告自杀未遂时的具体含义。
调查对象是一所大型公立大学所有18至24岁大一学生的代表性样本。这份自行填写的匿名调查问卷包括有关自杀想法和行为的问题，以及有关报告的自杀未遂导致的任何伤害和医疗需求的问题。
在694名受访者中，374人（54%）报告曾考虑过自杀，181人（26%）在过去12个月内考虑过自杀。13名（2%）学生报告在过去12个月内有过自杀未遂行为，72名（10%）报告曾有过自杀未遂行为。对因自杀未遂导致的受伤、寻求医疗护理和住院治疗问题回答肯定的学生人数逐渐减少：只有18名（3%）学生报告曾因自杀未遂寻求过医疗护理，7名（1%）曾住院治疗。
自我报告的自杀未遂患病率并不代表自我伤害的患病率，且几乎没有提供有关自杀未遂严重程度的信息。未来的调查应考虑使用与本研究中类似的具体问题。
