Higher Suicide Intent in Patients Attempting Suicide With Violent Methods Versus Self-Poisoning.

Suicidal intent for patients attempting suicide using violent methods (VMs) is assumed to be higher than for those using self-poisoning (SP), which may explain the higher mortality observed in follow-up studies. However, this has not been studied prospectively. We aimed to compare patients attempting suicide using VMs with those using SP regarding suicidal intent, suicidal ideation, depression, and hopelessness during hospital stay and after 1 year. Patients hospitalized after suicide attempt by VMs ( = 80) or SP ( = 81) completed the Beck scales for Suicide Intent, Suicide Ideation, Depression Inventory, and Hopelessness on admission and at the 12-month follow-up. On admission, those using VMs had higher suicidal intent than those using SP ( = 16.2 vs. 13.3, < .001), but lower depression scores ( = 22.2 vs. 26.8, < .05). No significant differences were found in suicidal ideation ( = 20.1 vs. 23.1) or hopelessness ( = 10.1 vs. 11.9). At 12-month follow-up, depression scores decreased significantly for both groups, while hopelessness decreased only for the SP group. The statistical power achieved was lower than intended. The higher levels of suicidal intent, but lower levels of depression, may indicate more impulsivity among people attempting suicide using VMs. Suicidal ideation was relatively stable.