Table 2 Self reported previous health condition and use of health care services
Patients, n (%) | Violent methods N = 80 | Deliberate self-poisoning N = 81 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
Karnofsky scoreb | 93 | 96.7 | p < 0.05 |
(0 min- 100 max) | (90.0–95.8) | (94.9–98.4) |  |
Previous somatic diseasea | 39 (49) | 44 (54) | ns (0.5) |
Previous episode of self-harm | 59 (74) | 58 (72) | Ns (0.9) |
Poisoning - all | 39 (49) | 47 (58) | ns (0.2) |
 Once | 12 (15) | 23 (28) |  |
 Twice or three | 14 (18) | 12 (15) |  |
 More than three | 13 (16) | 12 (15) |  |
Cutting - all | 30 (38) | 29 (36) | ns (0.8) |
 Once | 13 (16) | 12 (15) |  |
 Twice or three | 6 (8) | 5 (6) |  |
 More than three | 11 (14) | 12 (15) |  |
Other- all | 23 (29) | 16 (20) | ns (0.2) |
 Once | 14 (18) | 8 (10) |  |
 Twice or three | 6 (7) | 1 (1) |  |
 More than three | 3 (4) | 7 (9) |  |
Time since previous self-harm | |||
  < 1 month | 19 (24) | 32 (40) | p < 0.05 |
 1–2 months | 4 (5) | 1 (1) |  |
 3–5 months | 10 (13) | 0 (0) |  |
 6–12 months | 5 (9) | 5 (6) |  |
 1–4 year | 9 (11) | 9 (11) |  |
  > 4 years | 12 (15) | 11 (14) |  |
Earlier episode of self-harm; − considered as suicide attempt | 46 (58) | 38 (47) | ns (0.4) |
Last suicide attempt before the current hospitalization | |||
 Less than a week | 12 (15) | 22 (27) | p < 0.05 |
  < 1 month | 4 (5) | 5 (6) |  |
 1–2 months | 8 (10) | 2 (3) |  |
 3–12 months | 9 (11) | 2 (3) |  |
 1–4 years | 23 (29) | 20 (25) |  |
Received psychiatric treatment before the current suicide attempt | 38 (48) | 44 (54) | ns (0.3) |
Contact with GP | 56 (70) | 65 (80) | ns (0.1) |
Frequency, last year | |||
 Once | 11 (14) | 7 (9) |  |
 Twice or three | 15 (19) | 18 (22) |  |
 Four or five | 11 (14) | 16 (20) |  |
 More than five times | 19 (24) | 24 (30) |  |
Last contact with GP before suicide attempt < 1 week | 14 (18) | 20 (25) | ns (0.5) |
 1–2 weeks | 13 (16) | 6 (7) |  |
 2–4 weeks | 15 (19) | 14 (17) |  |
 1–5 months | 16 (20) | 19 (24) |  |
 6 months or more | 17 (21) | 18 (22) |  |
Reason for attending GP | |||
 Physical disease | 18 (23) | 23 (28) | ns (0.2) |
 Psychiatric disorder | 30 (38) | 27 (33) |  |
 Physical and psychiatric disease | 24 (30) | 29 (36) |  |
When you attended GP, were you planning to harm yourself? | |||
 In a way | 24 (30) | 21 (26) | ns (0.6) |
 Yes, definitely | 12 (15) | 8 (10) |  |
Did you mention that you had thoughts about self-harming? | |||
 Indicated it | 16 (20) | 12 (15) | ns (0.8) |
 Yes | 9 (11) | 9 (11) |  |
Earlier treatment in psychiatric ward? | 37 (46) | 32 (40) | ns (0.4) |
Once | 13 (16) | 12 (15) | Â |
 2–3 times | 10 (13) | 12 (15) |  |
  > 3 times | 14 (18) | 8 (10) |  |
Earlier treatment at district psychiatric center? | 44 (55) | 39 (48) | ns (0.4) |
 Once | 16 (20) | 11 (14) |  |
 2–3 times | 7 (9) | 13 (16) |  |
  > 3 times | 21 (26) | 15 (19) |  |
What do you see as the main cause of this hospital admission? | |||
I wanted to die | 49 (62) | 45 (55) | p < 0.05 |
escape from problems | 12 (15) | 23 (28) | Â |
affect relationships to someone | 1 (1) | 4 (5) | Â |
accident/intoxication | 5 (6) | – |  |
don’t remember | 5 (6) | 2 (2) |  |
don’t want to state the reason | 5 (6) | 2 (2) |  |
others | 3 (4) | 5 (6) | Â |