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BACKGROUND: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is the strongest risk factor for future suicide. Up-to-date information on the extent of risk is lacking. AIMS: To investigate the risk of suicide after DSH during a long follow-up period. METHOD: A mortality follow-up study to 2000 was conducted on 11 583 patients who presented to hospital after DSH between 1978 and 1997. Data were obtained from a general hospital DSH register in Oxford and the Office for National Statistics, and from equivalent mortality registers in Scotland and Northern Ireland. RESULTS: Three hundred patients had died by suicide or probable suicide. The risk in the first year of follow-up was 0.7% (95% CI 0.6-0.9%), which was 66 (95% CI 52-82) times the annual risk of suicide in the general population. The risk after 5 years was 1.7%, at 10 years 2.4% and at 15 years 3.0%. The risk was far higher in men than in women (hazard ratio 2.8,95% CI 2.2-3.6). In both genders it increased markedly with age at initial presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Following DSH there is a significant and persistent risk of suicide, which varies markedly between genders and age groups. Reduction in the risk of suicide following DSH must be a key element in national suicide prevention strategies.

Original publication

DOI

10.1192/bjp.182.6.537

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Psychiatry

Publication Date

06/2003

Volume

182

Pages

537 - 542

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Child, England, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Poisoning, Risk Factors, Self-Injurious Behavior, Sex Factors, Suicide, Survival Analysis, Time Factors