• 생물정신의학
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.187-194
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• 2015

Objectives To examine direct causes of attempted suicides, methods adopted to commit suicide, and psychiatric diagnoses among suicide attempters in South Korea. Methods A total of 1359 suicide attempters who had visited emergency department of 17 medical centers due to suicide attempt from May 2013 to Nov 2013 were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Results Psychiatric symptoms were the most common cause of suicide attempts (62.2%), followed by interpersonal relationships (24.4%). Women attempted suicide more often for interpersonal reasons, whereas men were more likely to do so for financial and job-related reasons. Half of participants (55.8%) attempted suicide by drug intoxication, which was more prevalent among females and those who had previous history of psychiatric disease or previous suicide attempt. Men were more likely to use more lethal methods such as pesticide poisoning and gas inhalation than women. Pesticide poisoning was also prevalent among the elderly group and the rural population. Near ninety-five percent (94.5%) of participants received a psychiatric diagnosis : the most frequent diagnosis was depressive disorder. Conclusions This is the first nationwide study of cases of attempted suicide. When stratified by age groups, gender, urbanicity, living alone or not, presence of physical illness, previous psychiatric history, and previous suicide attempt, there were significant differences with respect to causes, methods of attempted suicides and psychiatric diagnoses of suicide attempters.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.397-411
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of Korean college students on suicide attempts. Methods: Eight students participated and data were collected through in-depth individual interviews between September, 2011 and April, 2012. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory method. Results: Analysis showed that the central phenomenon of suicide attempt experience of college students was 'inextricable despair'. Causal conditions were 'sense of shame by failure to achieve perfect independence' and 'a big gap between reality and ideals'. Contextual conditions were 'extreme situation of being cornered' and 'excessive changes in emotions'. Intervening conditions were 'important others' and 'perspectives on the world'. Action/interaction strategies were 'temporary efforts' and 'gathering up one's mind'. Consequences were 'trauma as one's own hurt', 'conflict between life and death' and 'becoming mature'. Conclusion: The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the experience of college students with attempted suicide. It is necessary to develop programs to prevent suicide attempts by college students and these results can be used as a basis for program development.

• 가정∙방문간호학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.112-119
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• 2010

Purpose: The study explored the influence of the suicide of two famous entertainers on the suicide attempts of the public. Method: The subjects of the descriptive study were 888 suicide attempt patients recruited from October 2007 to September 2009 in an emergency centre located in S-city. The research tools were developed at the Centre for Disease Control. Results: The frequency of suicide attempts during the 6 months and 12 months preceding and following the gas-related suicide of celebrity A were ${\chi}^2$=18.14 and ${\chi}^2$=25.97, respectively, and both were significant(both p<.001). The frequency of suicide attempts of the 6 and 12months before and after the release of report of celebrity B's hanging suicide were ${\chi}^2$=3.85 and ${\chi}^2$=3.47, respectively, and both were significant (both p<.05). Conclusion: These results showed that reports of suicide of celebrities influences suicide attempts of the public. Multiple factors that can influence suicide attempts should be further identified and researched.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.46-55
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• 1984

The socio-psychiatric study and personality analysis by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory on attempted suicides with drug intoxication in Seonsan-Gun and Cheongdo-Gun of Kyoungsang buk-Do was attempted to identify overall picture of attempted suicides and to detect some characteristics of personality. The total of 93 suicide attempted cases which were brought to the local clinics for the past 3 years from February, 1981 to February,1984 were sampled among them. The socio-psychiatric study and MMPI were performed with 45 attempters possible to be interviewed. The personalities of a group which answered "Still have the desire occasionally" or "Don't know about the present attitude toward suicide was compared with those of the other group who answered "Will not do it agagin". The results were as follows; 1) The sex ratio of the total attempters (93 cases) were 138.5. The highest rate by age group was found in the 3rd decade to be 27 cases. On the other hand, the sex ratio of interviewed cases were 136.8 and the highest rate was found in the age group of 50-59. 2) For the common characteristics of majority other than sex, 55.7% of cases were graduated primary school, and 62.2% were engaged in agriculture. 3) Except the fact that more of the attempted suicides happened during summer, there were no seasonal variation among other seasons. 4) The places selected for the attempted suicides were the houses in majority of cases (98%). Most of cases (53.3%) were found immediately after the attempt and 24.4% within one hour. For the poison taken, 86.7 took a sort of herbicides or insecticides, 55.6% were admitted to local clinics for only one day and 20% for two days. 5) The most common precipitating factors of the attempted suicides were family trouble and financial poverty. 6) The psychodynamic motives of the attempters were impulsive hostility(35.6%), abandonment(33.3%), guilt feeling (11.1%), manipulation and attention seeking (8.9%) and others. 7) In regard to their present attitude toward suicide, 29 cases (64.4%) expressed that they would never do such an act again, 37.8% of cases expressed that they really wanted to die at the time when they attempted. 8) The Psychopathic deviate, Paranoia, Depression, Schizophrenia scores were significantly higher in the attempters group who answered "Don't know" or "Possibly" for the question of "Will you attempt suicide again?" Than the group who answered" will not do it again".

• 수면정신생리
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.5-9
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• 2013

One of hypothesis is that sleep loss related to a decrease in serotonergic activity plays a significant role in attempted suicide. A growing evidence suggests that central serotonergic activity plays a key role in the etiology of suicide. It has been reported that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the main metabolite of serotonin, were reduced in suicide attempters. In addition, there is evidence that tryptophan hydroxylase is associated with suicide. The association between sleep and suicide was also suggested by some researchers. Several recent studies have showed the association between sleep disturbance and suicide rates in patients with mental disorders and in a general population. In addition, it has been suggested that serotonin plays a role in maintaining arousal and regulating muscle tone and in regulating some of the phasic events of REM sleep. Especially, it is well-known that 5-HT2 receptors are related to slow wave sleep. In conclusion, it is clear that sleep, serotonin activity, and suicide are linked, although the direction of causation needs clarification. In future, large population-based cohort studies are needed to demonstrate the direction of causation in the relationships between sleep, serotonin activity, and suicide.

• 대한불안의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2008

Objective : This study investigated the temperament and character traits associated with suicide attempts in patients with mood disorders. Methods : The temperament and character inventory (TCI) was administered to 150 patients who visited psychiatric clinics seeking treatment for mood symptoms. The patients were divided into three groups as follows : non-suicide ideation, suicide ideation and suicide attempt. We also gathered socio-economic data in order to rule out confounding variables. MANOVA was performed to analyze differences in personal temperament and character scores on the TCI between the three groups. Results : The self-directedness and cooperativeness subscales of the TCI are most influenced by the clinical symptoms rated by Beck Suicide Ideation Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. In the temperament scale, the suicide attempt group scored higher on the novelty seeking and harm avoidance items than the other two groups. The specific temperaments associated with suicidal behavior in patients with depression are impulsivity (NS2) and anticipatory anxiety or pessimism (HA1). Conclusion : In this study, we found that more risky patients who had previously attempted suicide had a temperament of impulsivity or pessimism. This finding suggests that a more cautious approach is needed to assess mood disorder patients with impulsive or pessimistic temperaments in order to prevent suicide attempts.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.465-473
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• 2008

Purpose: Suicide has been considered a large public health concern in recent years because suicide mortality has been increasing rapidly. This study was done to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of a suicide attempt among adolescents in South Korea. Methods: The data of the 2006 Youth Health Risk Behavior web-based Survey collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control was analyzed using logistic regression for this study. Results: The prevalence of a suicide attempt was 5.2% in South Korea. The risk factors of a suicide attempt were suicidal ideation (odds 31.83), depression (odds 7.98), drug use (odds 4.67), currently smoking (odds 3.19), feeling unhappiness (odds 2.77), stress (odds 2.60), currently drinking alcohol (odds 2.39), sexual activity (odds 2.33), living with neither parent (odds 2.24), initial alcohol drinking by age 9 (odds 1.80), health status (odds 2.15), skipped breakfast (odds 1.75), disease (odds 1.65), and school records (odds 1.22). Conclusion: Suicide screening and prevention programs should be developed, considering these risk factors. Suicide prevention programs should be applied to the at risk population prior to a suicide attempt.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2017

Nitrogen is an inert gas that is harmless to humans under normal conditions. While it is not inherently toxic, nitrogen gas becomes dangerous when it displaces oxygen, resulting in suffocation. Herein, we report a case of a 34-year-old man who attempted suicide by nitrogen asphyxiation who presenting with decreased mental function and agitation. Lactic acidosis and hyperammonemia were observed on presentation at the emergency department, but these improved after a few hours. After 2 days, the patient regained full consciousness, and was discharged without any complications. Survival after asphyxiation due to nitrogen gas is very rare, and these patients are more likely to have poorer outcomes. There is a potential for the increasing use of nitrogen gas as a method of committing suicide because of the ease of access to this gas.

• 의료법학
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.261-285
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• 2019

자살예방의 필수적인 정책은 바로 자살재시도율 관련 지표 수집 및 이에 기초한 추적조사를 통해 자살 시도자들을 지속적으로 관리 및 치료하는 것이다. 우리나라의 경우 「개인정보보호법」에 의해서 사례관리에 동의한 대상자들만이 추적 관찰이 가능하게 되어 있어, 연구 참여율 및 서비스 참여율이 저조하여 연구 참여자가 자살기도자의 일부에 국한된다는 한계점이 지속적으로 제기되고 있다. 이에 「자살예방법」 제14조 및 제20조에 따라 자살예방정책의 실질적 활용을 높이기 위한 방안으로 보건복지부법령에서 개선되어야 할 정책적 제안들을 비교 정책적으로 고찰하였다. 정책적 개선을 위한 기준으로서 기술적, 윤리적인 차원에서 고려해야 할 정보의 비식별화 조치 및 비영리 연구, 치료 목적으로만 의료정보에 접근할 수 있는 방안들을 제시하였으며, 한국형 중증도 분류 체계의 기준에 의해 외과적인 중증도와 더불어 자살위험도 평가를 통해 자살에 관한 심각성을 고려하여 지속적인 추적관찰 여부의 객관적 판단을 할 수 있는 기준을 제시하였다. 더불어 비교법적 고찰을 통해 즉각적인 정신과적 치료의 연계와 더불어 자살 시도자 및 보호자가 정신과적 진료에 실제로 접근함에 있어 진입장벽으로 여기는 건강보험 적용의 문제해결을 위해 효과적인 사례관리를 위한 사례관리 전문 교육에 대한 정책적 지원이 추가될 필요가 있음을 제언하였다.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.232-239
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• 2021

This study aimed to update suicide-related indicators including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and the number of suicidal deaths. Based on up-to-date information, we observed the trends of suicide-related indicators. In this study, five data sources were used to observe the trends of suicide-related indicators: Statistics Korea (1983-2019), Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, '07-13, '15-19), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '12-19), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '10-13, '16-17). The suicide rate, which peaked in 2011, declined until 2017 and then started to rise again from 2018, recording a suicide rate of 26.9 per 100,000 people in 2019. The rate of suicidal ideation estimated based on the recently available data was 4.62% (KNHANES, '19), 3.51% (KHP, '16), 2.87% (KHP, '17), and 1.70% (KOWEPS, '19). That of suicide attempt as recent year was 0.43% (KNHANES, '19), 0.07% (KOWEPS, '19). Annual percentage change of death by intentional self-harm was -2.11% (Statistics Korea), and that of suicidal ideation was -14.7% (KNHANES), -2.5% (KCHS), -10.6% (KOWEPS), and -11.3% (KHP). Annual percentage change of suicide attempt was -5.0% (KNHANES), -4.4% (KCHS), and -11.3% (KOWEPS). The lower the income level, the higher the probability of experiencing suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Considering the recent increase in suicide rate in contrast to the continuing decline in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, continuous data observation and appropriate policies regarding suicide prevention are needed.