Childhood experiences and repeated suicidal behavior

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Abstract
The aim of this study was to elucidate the influence of various events in childhood on suicidal behavior in adult age. For this purpose, 99 patients admitted to the Department of Psychiatry of Odense University Hospital after making a suicide attempt were followed for 5 years, to register repeated suicidal behavior. The results showed that three fourths of the patients attempted suicide more than once (62% nonfatal and 14% fatal outcome). The sex distribution was about the same among the first‐evers as among the repeaters. Most repeaters were younger people in their twenties and thirties, and the first‐evers on average were past the age of 40. Somewhat unexpectedly, significantly more repeaters than first‐evers had grown up with both their parents. However, the results also showed that significantly more repeaters than first‐evers had had an unhappy childhood. This indicates that the psychological climate of the home may be more important than the rupture of early home life. It is noteworthy that the group of repeaters, as against the first‐evers, could be characterized by personality disorders and abuse, especially of alcohol: disorders known to be precipitated by a discordant childhood. It is commonly agreed that the experience in childhood of suicidal behavior among family members or other persons in the close environment is of importance in future suicidal risk. The results of this study indicate that the predictive value of this factor mainly applies to attempts with no fatal outcome: the suicidal act is perceived ‐ and learned ‐ as way to solve problems.

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