Wyder Marianne, De Leo Diego
Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia.
J Affect Disord. 2007 Dec;104(1-3):167-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2007.02.015. Epub 2007 Mar 29.
A considerable proportion of suicide attempts are made on impulse. However, knowledge of characteristics of impulsive attempters is still limited. The present study investigated some of these characteristics and aimed to identify the pattern (if any) of suicidal ideation before an impulsive attempt.
Data from a randomized and stratified population of 5130 individuals from Brisbane, Australia, were analysed. Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) were adopted to recruit subjects. Those reporting previous suicidal behaviour were sent a questionnaire by mail.
One hundred and twelve subjects reported a suicide attempt. One quarter of these described a pattern consistent with an impulsive attempt. Most impulsive attempters experienced suicidal thoughts before their attempt. They were less likely to believe that their attempt would cause death, and less likely to experience depression. Impulsive attempters did not differ significantly from non-impulsive attempters in regards to age, gender, and motivations for the attempt. Surprisingly, no differences in mean scores of trait impulsivity between impulsive and non-impulsive attempters were found. In addition, the majority of suicide attempters (whether impulsive or not) experienced the suicidal process as fluctuating and not as developing along a continuum.
The number of attempters who validly entered the study limited our ability to identify potential confounders. Due to the retrospective nature of the survey, the reliability of the information collected may have been affected by recall biases. In addition, as the surveys were administered by mail, it is possible that some questions may have been misinterpreted.
The presence of suicidal feelings prior to an attempt constitutes an opportunity for intervention also in impulsive attempters. However, the identification of impulsiveness requires more research efforts.
相当一部分自杀未遂是出于冲动。然而，对冲动型自杀未遂者特征的了解仍然有限。本研究调查了其中一些特征，旨在识别冲动型自杀未遂前自杀意念的模式（若有）。
分析了来自澳大利亚布里斯班的5130名个体的随机分层样本数据。采用计算机辅助电话访谈（CATI）招募受试者。向那些报告有过自杀行为的人邮寄问卷。
112名受试者报告有过自杀未遂经历。其中四分之一描述的模式符合冲动型自杀未遂。大多数冲动型自杀未遂者在自杀未遂前有过自杀念头。他们不太可能认为自己的自杀行为会导致死亡，也不太可能患有抑郁症。冲动型自杀未遂者在年龄、性别和自杀动机方面与非冲动型自杀未遂者没有显著差异。令人惊讶的是，冲动型和非冲动型自杀未遂者在特质冲动性平均得分上没有差异。此外，大多数自杀未遂者（无论是否冲动型）经历的自杀过程是波动的，而非呈连续发展。
有效进入研究的自杀未遂者数量限制了我们识别潜在混杂因素的能力。由于调查具有回顾性，所收集信息的可靠性可能受到回忆偏差的影响。此外，由于调查是通过邮寄进行的，一些问题可能被误解。
自杀未遂前出现自杀情绪，这对冲动型自杀未遂者来说也是一个进行干预的机会。然而，对冲动性的识别还需要更多的研究努力。
