The association between childhood trauma and lifetime suicide attempts among a sample of male prisoners: A pilot observational study.
Childhood trauma
Mental disorder
Prisoners
Suicidal behavior
Suicide attempt
Journal
Journal of forensic and legal medicine
ISSN: 1878-7487
Titre abrégé: J Forensic Leg Med
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101300022
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
May 2021
May 2021
Historique:
received:
26
01
2021
revised:
26
04
2021
accepted:
02
05
2021
pubmed:
16
5
2021
medline:
7
7
2021
entrez:
15
5
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Prisoners have higher rates of suicide attempts compared with general population. A history of childhood trauma (CT) is common among incarcerated subjects and it is a well-known risk factor for lifetime suicide attempts. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether lifetime suicide attempts may be related to the exposition to CT among male prisoners. We conducted a cross sectional study recruiting newly arrived inmates in an Italian jail, between January 2017 and June 2018. Prisoners were interviewed to collect socio-demographic and clinical information. Moreover, inmates completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We excluded prisoners unable to speak or read Italian, with learning disabilities or current severe psychiatric symptoms. A total of 215 consecutive male inmates were included. Fifty-one prisoners (23.7%) had a history of attempted suicide. The most reported CT was physical neglect. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect and psychiatric diagnosis significantly increased the likelihood of lifetime suicide attempt. A previous history of suicide attempt is highly prevalent among inmates. In agreement with previous findings, lifetime suicide attempts seem to be associated with the presence of CT and psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, CT should be considered as a relevant variable to improve the programs for the prevention of suicide in prison.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Prisoners have higher rates of suicide attempts compared with general population. A history of childhood trauma (CT) is common among incarcerated subjects and it is a well-known risk factor for lifetime suicide attempts. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether lifetime suicide attempts may be related to the exposition to CT among male prisoners.
METHOD
METHODS
We conducted a cross sectional study recruiting newly arrived inmates in an Italian jail, between January 2017 and June 2018. Prisoners were interviewed to collect socio-demographic and clinical information. Moreover, inmates completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We excluded prisoners unable to speak or read Italian, with learning disabilities or current severe psychiatric symptoms.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 215 consecutive male inmates were included. Fifty-one prisoners (23.7%) had a history of attempted suicide. The most reported CT was physical neglect. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect and psychiatric diagnosis significantly increased the likelihood of lifetime suicide attempt.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
A previous history of suicide attempt is highly prevalent among inmates. In agreement with previous findings, lifetime suicide attempts seem to be associated with the presence of CT and psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, CT should be considered as a relevant variable to improve the programs for the prevention of suicide in prison.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33991929
pii: S1752-928X(21)00065-2
doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102180
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
102180Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.