• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate differences in psychological characteristics between major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with and without suicide attempt using MMPI-2-RF. Methods : Subjects were 107 MDD patients who had visited the department of psychiatry of hallym university hospital and met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria of MDD by the korean version of MINI-Plus 5.0.0. The patients were divided into suicidal attempters (n=43) and non-suicidal attempters (n=64) using C-SSRS. The one-way ANOVA was used to compare MMPI-2-RF scale scores between two groups. Additionally, ANCOVA was conducted considering the severity of depressive symptom and comorbidity as covariate. Results : Our results showed that Suicide/Death Ideation (SUI), Inefficacy (NFC) and Interpersonal Passivity (IPP) scales were significantly higher in the MDD patients with suicidal attempt compared to MDD patients without suicidal attempt (p<0.05). However, after controlling for the severity of depressive symptom and comorbidity, SUI scale showed a significant tendency (p<0.10). Conclusions : The result suggests that MMPI-2-RF scales could be a useful tool for identifying patients transitioning to actual suicidal attempts in the moderate or severe major depressive disorder group. Limitations of this study and directions for further research are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was conducted in order to develop the Korean version of the Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (KRFL-A) and to investigate the reliability and validity of the KRFL-A. Methods : The KRFL-A, Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Adolescent Suicide Questionnaire (ASQ) were administered to 720 first grade high school students. We examined the test-retest reliability, internal consistency of KRFL-A, and performed factor analysis. We also evaluated the correlation between KRFL-A and other scales, and the discrimination validity of KRFL-A between suicide attempt and non-attempt groups. Results : Test-retest reliability, item-total correlation and internal consistency were all reliable. From factor analysis, three factors were extracted. The KRFL-A showed negative correlation with SSI and BHS scales. In addition, it could discriminate the suicide attempter group from the non-attempter group. Conclusion : The Korean version of the Reasons for Living Inventory was found to be reliable and valid for use in assessing the risk of suicide in adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2020

Objectives : Evidence regarding the association between untreated depression in adolescence and suicidal risk in male young adults is scarce. We aimed to assess the effect of untreated illness during adolescence on the suicidal risk and attempt after that first episode. Methods : As part of a cross-sectional study, between May 2017 and April 2018, a total of 260 patients with currently unipolar or bipolar depression were included in the final analysis. Multiple linear and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between untreated mood disorder in adolescence and its effect on the suicidal risk and attempt. Results : In total 260 patients, 189 were classified as untreated group. The proportion of suicide attempts, total depression score, suicidal risk and number of suicide attempts were significantly higher in the untreated group. The most predictive factors of suicide attempts were history of untreated depression [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=4.19, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=2.25-7.81, p<0.001] and diagnosis of bipolar depression (AOR=2.60, 95% CI=1.52-4.46, p<0.001). Conclusions : Although the untreated depression suggests higher rates of suicidality, a significant proportion (86.7%) of adolescent depression in this study did not receive psychiatric treatment. Future research should be needed to find better ways to decrease barriers in using mental health treatment and its contribution to reduction and prevention of adverse outcome.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.252-263
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• 2015

Since 2004 suicide in Korea was the number 1 cause of mortality among OECD countries, the suicides and suicide mortality rate is constantly increasing. Using AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process), we examined the main approaches and detailed policies of suicide prevention to confirm an effective suicide policy. A workshop and survey were conducted on August 23rd and 26th, 2013, with 30 people. There were 20 academics (4 social workers, 7 mental health workers, 5 psychiatrists, 4 clinical psychologists), and 5 policymakers and 5 administrative staff. In additional 5 people from social welfare and 5 from clinical psychology fields were survey from september 9 to 12 by e-mail. The research found 4 priorities. They include, suicide attempt management, building up public infrastructure for suicide prevention, support to bereaved families, and crisis management of high risk groups in society.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.118-124
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• 2018

Objectives Although impulsivity has long been thought as an important factor influencing suicidal behaviors, it is unknown whether impulsivity increases the risk of dying from suicidal behaviors and what specific component among constructs of impulsivity contributes to the risk of dying among suicide attempters. Methods To elucidate the association between impulsivity and medical lethality of suicide attempt among suicide attempters, we consecutively recruited 46 suicide attempters who visited an emergency room of a general hospital located in a metropolitan area, Seoul, Republic of Korea, due to suicide attempts and consented to participate in this study. Then we assessed medical lethality with the Beck Lethality Scale (LS) and impulsivity with the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised (BIS). Demographic variables were obtained from medical records and structured social work reports for suicide attempters. Results Although total scores of the BIS did not correlate with LS scores, only the scores of self-control, that is one of the Barrett's six theoretical constructs of impulsivity in which the higher score indicates less self-control and more impulsivity, had a significant positive correlation with scores of LS (p = 0.003). The association remained significant after adjusting for variables known to affect suicide lethality such as job status, recent alcohol consumption, diagnosis of depressive disorders, and having a plan for suicide (${\beta}=0.429$, p = 0.009). Conclusions Not impulsivity in general, but poor self-control, in particular, predicts lethal suicidal behaviors among suicide attempters. The degree of self-control should be evaluated when assessing patients with elevated suicide risk, and proper measures should be installed to prevent possible future lethal suicide attempts.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.185-192
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• 2020

Objectives: Our study aimed to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents during their first visit to psychiatric outpatient departments for the management of suicidal ideation and behavior, and to compare the changes before and in 2012 or later. Methods: This multicenter study was conducted at five university hospitals in a metropolitan area in South Korea. Medical records of patients aged 6-18 years were retrospectively reviewed from January 2009 to December 2016. Patients were analyzed by classifying them into suicidal and non-suicidal groups based on their visit to the hospital for management of suicidal ideation or suicide attempt and other mental problems, respectively. Results: There were differences in the year of visit, diagnosis, education level, and referral sources between patients in the suicidal and non-suicidal groups. Multiple regression analysis was conducted based on the sex, education level, referral by school, and diagnosis of depression in patients in the suicidal group, which revealed significant association. Conclusion: Suicide-related problems were significantly associated with the sex, education level, referral by school, and a diagnosis of depression in the patients. A well-connected referral system would be necessary for professional mental health management of high-risk children and adolescents.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2018

This study used survey research method to identify factors affecting suicidal ideation in adolescents. The results of this study are as follows. First, it is necessary to narrow the psychological distance between the parents and the adolescents, to make efforts in each family to be more harmonious within the family, and to reduce consciously the physical and verbal violence which is sometimes unintentionally applied between the parents. Second, when adolescents attempt suicide, counseling agencies in schools, educational institutions, and local communities should be able to respond effectively to adolescent crisis situations, and follow-up measures such as suicide prevention education and suicide attitude education must be conducted Efforts should be made to reduce juvenile delinquent suicide and impulsive suicidal thoughts. Third, when developing adolescent suicide prevention and related programs, differentiated programs and suicide prevention education should be tried. Fourth, I think that it is necessary to prevent the suicidal thoughts of adolescents by early detection and intervention of high - depression adolescents by establishing a system that can be applied to adolescents out of school.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.687-698
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• 2018

Objective: This study examined the characteristics of suicidal attempters, including pre-hospital patients and those who visited the emergency department. Methods: Suicidal attempters who had been reported to the 119 call center were selected between July 2015 and June 2016. Sex, age, place, methods of suicidal attempt, season, time, and suicide success rate were reviewed in the fire center records. Results: A total 961 suicide attempters were enrolled. Among them, 53.6% were males who had an approximately 2.6 times higher mortality than that of females (9.2%). The most preferred place to commit suicide was the home in both sexes (68.0% in male, 82.8% in female) and the most preferred methods was drug intoxication, particularly pesticide. The method with the highest mortality was hanging and the lowest was self-harm. The season of the highest mortality was spring. The success of suicide and the time variation were similar. Most of the un-transferred patients also selected fatal suicide attempts compared to transfer patients. Conclusion: Unlike previous studies, this study includes information on un-transferred patients. Overall, the probability of death was highest as more than 50 years men chose hanging as a method, which had an influence on the un-transferred patients group.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.121-126
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• 2021

Based on network agenda-setting theory, this study attempted to analyze media reports about suicide from 2000 to 2020 in order to find solutions for suicide problem in the Korean society. Results showed that top 10 key words in media were suicide, death leap, death, attempt, supposition, discovery, men, pessimism. Those key words were appeared similarly and contunually in the media. In addition, both newspapers and broadcastings had similar reports trend, so it is plausible to consider inter-media agenda setting relations between newspapers and broadcasings.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2022

Objectives : The study aimed to identify factors associated with suicidal attempt in Korean adults experiencing thoughts of suicide. Methods : This study analyzed outcomes of suicidal behavior in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015, 2017, and 2019. This survey was administered by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The suicidal idea group was divided into individuals who had attempted suicide (n=92) and those who had not (n=831). Complex samples crosstabs analysis was conducted to compare the two groups' sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical characteristics. In addition, factors related to attempted suicide were investigated using complex samples logistic regression analysis. Results : The attempted suicide group had significantly higher rates of depression, recent psychiatric counseling, and suicidal plan (p<0.001) than the non-attempting group. In addition, the groups differed significantly in the frequency of binge drinking and smoking (p<0.05). Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of a suicidal plan (Odds ratio [OR]=8.46, 95% Confidential Intervals [CI]=4.72-15.00), daily binge drinking (OR=3.14, 95% CI=1.26-7.84), psychiatric counseling within the past year (OR=3.03, 95% CI=1.75-5.23), low income level (OR=2.89, 95% CI=1.17-7.10), and history of depression (OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.29-4.42) were significantly associated with suicidal attempt. Conclusions : Factors associated with suicidal attempt among suicidal ideators in the general Korean population were identified across all sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical variables. Assessment of and intervention in suicidal plan, binge drinking, income level, and depression might prevent progression to suicidal attempt among those contemplating suicide.