Are previous suicide attempts a risk factor for completed suicide?

BACKGROUND: A previous suicide attempt is a clinically relevant factor for completed suicide. In this paper people who committed suicide on their first attempt are compared with those who did so after previous attempts.

METHOD: A review of the Computerised Clinical Histories in the Navarro Health Service-Osasunbidea (2010-2013) in Spain.

RESULTS: Of the 166 cases, 31.9% (n = 53) presented at least one prior attempt. Of these 53, 65.3% modified the method of suicide. Women presented significantly more attempts (χ2 = 14.3; df = 3; p = .002). Three sub-samples were identified according to the attempts and diagnoses. The diagnoses of personality disorders (90.9%; n = 10) and women under 51 years of age with a diagnosis of affective, anxiety, or substance abuse disorders (82.4%; n = 14) presented the highest numbers of attempts. People without a psychiatric diagnosis and with psychotic or organic mental disorders presented the smallest proportion of attempts (13.2%; n = 10) together with people over 51 years of age diagnosed with affective, anxiety, or substance abuse disorders (22.5%; n = 9).

CONCLUSIONS: Prior attempts are suicide risk factors only in specific clinical sub-samples. Prevention and intervention programs should consider these results.