Three decades of suicide and life-threatening behavior: a bibliometric study

The purpose of this study is to quantify certain characteristics of the articles published in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior in three 5-year periods, namely, 1971-1975, 1984-1988, and 1997-2001. The characteristics in question include geographic origin of articles, number of authors per article, number of references listed per article, and number of times an article is cited in the literature. Changes across the three periods in terms of distribution of subjects/participants by age group and gender are also examined. The discussion focuses on explanations for the trends and characteristics that are described.     

Transgender youth and life-threatening behaviors

Sexual minority status is a key risk factor for suicide among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; however, it has not been studied among transgender youth. Fifty-five transgender youth reported on their life-threatening behaviors. Nearly half of the sample reported having seriously thought about taking their lives and one quarter reported suicide attempts. Factors significantly related to having made a suicide attempt included suicidal ideation related to transgender identity; experiences of past parental verbal and physical abuse; and lower body esteem, especially weight satisfaction and thoughts of how others evaluate the youths' bodies. Sexual minority status is a key risk factor for life-threatening behaviors among transgender youth.     

Problem behaviors and suicide and homicide

In a sample of 36 nations, suicide rates were negatively associated with a drug abuse index. Homicide rates were positively associated with a violent crime index.     

Rebuilding the tower of Babel: a revised nomenclature for the study of suicide and suicidal behaviors. Part 2: Suicide-related ideations, communications, and behaviors

A revised and refined version of the O'Carroll et al. (1996) nomenclature for suicidology is presented, with a focus on suicide‐related ideations, communications, and behaviors. The hope is that this refinement will result in the development of operational definitions and field testing of this nomenclature in clinical and research settings. This revision would not have been possible without the international collaboration and dialogue addressing the nomenclature of suicidology since the O'Carroll et al. nomenclature appeared in 1996. Although it is doubtful that we will ever be able to construct universally unambiguous criteria to comprehensively characterize suicidal behaviors (and, overall, firmly establish the intention behind them), for scientific clarity it would be highly desirable that the set of definitions and the associated terminology be explicit and generalizable. De Leo, Burgis, Bertolote, Kerkhof, & Bille‐Brahe, 2006 , p. 5)     

The relationship between body dysmorphic disorder behaviors and the acquired capability for suicide

In a sample of 200 individuals diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), we utilized the interpersonal-psychological theory for suicide as a framework to examine BDD behaviors that might be associated with suicide risk, insofar as they might increase the acquired capability for suicide. We predicted that physically painful BDD behaviors (e.g., cosmetic surgery, restrictive eating) would be associated with suicide attempts but not suicide-related ideation because these behaviors increase capability for, but not thoughts about, suicide. Our hypothesis was partially confirmed, as BDD-related restrictive food intake was associated with suicide attempts (but not suicide-related ideation) even after controlling for numerous covariates.     

Responding to the socially motivated behaviors of early adolescents: recommendations for classroom management

Much of the literature on middle school teaching focuses upon the developmental stresses early adolescents typically experience. Yet the literature rarely offers teachers specific ways to respond to student behaviors which result from these developmental changes. This paper delineates the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional motivations behind typical early adolescent behaviors, and then offers middle school educators classroom-management approaches for responding to these student behaviors.     

Mediating effects of an indicated prevention program for reducing youth depression and suicide risk behaviors

This study explored the intervention processes of an indicated prevention program for high-risk youth. It was hypothesized that intervention effects would be influenced by the direct and mediating effects of teacher social support on both peer group support and perceived personal control. In turn, personal control was hypothesized to mediate between teacher and peer group support, contributing to reductions in depression and suicide risk behaviors. The hypotheses were tested using a three-wave, longitudinal design incorporating data from preintervention, 5-month follow-up, and 10-month follow-up assessments of 106 high-risk youth divided into three comparison groups: two experimental, one control. For the two intervention groups, there were direct and/or indirect effects of teacher and peer group support on personal control, depression, and suicide risk behaviors. The general hypothesis that personal control mediates between support resources and reductions in depression and suicide risk behaviors received partial support across the study groups.     

Rebuilding the tower of Babel: a revised nomenclature for the study of suicide and suicidal behaviors. Part 1: Background, rationale, and methodology

Since the publication of the O'Carroll et al. (1996) nomenclature for suicidology, there have been a number of published letters and articles, as well as an active e‐mail dialogue, in response to, and elaborating upon, this effort to establish a standard nomenclature for suicidology. This new nomenclature has been presented on a number of occasions at both national and international meetings. In this paper we provide the background, rationale, and methodology involved in the process of revising the O'Carroll et al. nomenclature, based on the feedback and discussions that have ensued over the past 10 years. Those who have written and studied the phenomenon of suicide have not defined the term so simply … how the word is defined has implications and large effects for statistics that are compiled on the official number of suicides, and for researchers, so that there is clear communication regarding what and who is being studied. Among writers in the field of suicidology there is no single common accepted definition … the term suicide refers not to a single action but more broadly to a great many varied behaviors. For example, one can speak of suicidal thoughts, intentions, ideation, gestures, attempts, completions, equivalents. Thus far, no single term, definition, or taxonomy has served to sufficiently represent the complex set of behaviors that have been suggested as suicidal. A standard set of terms and definitions are greatly needed to advance the science of suicidology and aid communication and understanding of the field. McIntosh (1985 , pp. 18–19)     

Beauty and the burn: tanning and other appearance-altering attitudes and behaviors

Tanning is often prompted by appearance concerns, yet little is known about associations between tanning and other appearance-altering behaviors. In the current study, we examined potential correlates of indoor and outdoor tanning that, like tanning, may enhance appearance but present health risks. College students (N = 284; Mage = 20.14, SD = 3.39) completed a survey. The main outcome measures were indoor tanning and outdoor sunbathing. Participants also answered questions pertaining to piercings and tattoos, healthy and unhealthy dieting behaviors, cigarette smoking, and interest in cosmetic surgery and enhancements. Results indicate that indoor tanners were more likely to have piercings, tattoos, to engage in healthy dieting behaviors, and to express interest in cosmetic enhancements. Outdoor sunbathers were more interested in cosmetic enhancements than non-outdoor sunbathers, and female outdoor sunbathers reported more unhealthy dieting behaviors than male outdoor sunbathers. These findings provide evidence for college students’ engagement in a constellation of appearance-oriented risk behaviors.     

A case control study of suicide and attempted suicide in older adults

Risk factors for serious suicidal behavior among older adults were examined in a case control study of 53 adults aged 55 and older who died by suicide or made medically serious suicide attempts and who were compared with 269 randomly selected comparison subjects. Multivariate analyses suggested that risk of serious suicidal behavior was elevated among those with current mood disorders (OR = 179, CI = 52.8-607.6), psychiatric hospital admission within the previous year (OR = 24.4, CI = 1.9-318.7), limited social network (OR = 4.5, CI = 1.4-14.6). The predominant role of mood disorders was confirmed by population attributable risk (PAR) estimates (73.6%), suggesting that the improved detection, treatment and management of mood disorders should be the primary focus of suicide prevention strategies for older adults.     

Anhedonia and suicide: a 6.5-yr. follow-up study of patients hospitalised for a suicide attempt

This was a prospective follow-up study of suicidal patients to assess the association of anhedonia, depression, and completed suicides. Survival analysis as well as Cox's regression makes it possible to weigh the influence of variables. A cohort of 106 patients (81 women, 25 men, M age=33 yr., SD=9.9) admitted to medical or surgical departments after a suicide attempt was followed during a 6.5-yr. mean observation period. In total, 6.7% of patients completed suicide. High proportion of male subjects (71.4%) and low anhedonia, assessed on the Physical Anhedonia Scale, decreased survival time of the cohort and characterized subjects who deceased by suicide. These results suggested that the people who completed suicide were characterized by low anhedonia. Further research is needed on people who attempt suicide and present with specific psychiatric diagnoses.     

Warning signs for suicide on the Internet: a descriptive study

The issue of suicide warning signs on the Internet is considered. In addition to reviewing some of the relevant conceptual issues about warning signs, a random sample of Internet sites was selected and reviewed. Warning signs were grouped and agreement across sites was examined, with results confirming broad disparity in what is presented to the public. The implications of a lack of consensus on warning signs for suicide are discussed.     

The psychological autopsy: methodological considerations for the study of adolescent suicide

The psychological autopsy has been employed to study risk factors for completed suicide for more than three decades. Despite a wide range in methods of approach to families and interview techniques, the studies show high compliance and remarkable consistency of results across a wide age range and diverse geographic samples. The convergent evidence is that the diagnostic information obtained is both reliable and valid, although it is likely that such an approach will be more specific than sensitive. Integration of data obtained through psychological autopsies with data obtained through biochemical, toxicological, and epidemiological approaches is likely to deepen our understanding of suicide. Successful completion of careful psychological autopsy studies should enable investigators to examine intensively patients who resemble suicide completers, thereby transcending the inherent limitations of this important first step in the investigation of suicide.     

Menstruation and suicide: an exploratory study

Previous research has reported mixed findings on the effect of the menstrual cycle on suicidal behavior. The contribution of menstruation to completed suicide is also controversial, though the studies are very limited and have not been carefully designed. To explore the relationship, 217 autopsies on completed suicides were performed, matched to a control group at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. The results show that 54.46% of people who died by suicide were menstruating (results excluded pregnancies), compared to 6.75% of the control group. Menstruation in those who completed suicide, compared to a control group, appeared to have an association with suicide. More research is warranted.