• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The Korean government has tried to decrease the suicide death rate over the last decade. Suicide attempts, particularly non-fatal attempts, are the most powerful known risk factor for a completed suicide. An analysis of suicide attempt methods will help establish the effective preventive action of suicide. Fit prevention according to the method of suicide attempt may decrease the incidence of suicide death. Self-poisoning is suggested as a major method of both suicide attempts and suicide death. The aim of this study was to determine if a self-poisoning patient is a suitable target for the prevention of the suicide. Methods: This was retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort, which included patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) after a self-harm or suicide attempt from Jan 2013 to Dec 2017. The proportion of methods in suicide attempts, psychological consultation, and fatality according to the suicide attempt method were analyzed. The types of poison were also analyzed. Results: Poisoning was the most common method of suicide attempts (52.1%). The rate of psychological consultations were 18.8% for all patients and 29.1% for poison patients (p<0.001). The rate of mortality in poisoning was 0.6%. Psychological consultation was performed more frequently in admission cases than discharged cases. The most common materials of poisons was psychological medicines and sedatives that had been prescribed at clinics or hospital. Conclusion: Self-poisoning is a major method of suicide attempt with a high rate of psychiatric consultation, low mortality rate, versus others methods. The prevention of suicide death for suicide attempts may focus on self-poisoning, which is the major method of suicide attempts. A suitable aftercare program for self-poisoning may be an effective method for preventing suicide if an early diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders through psychiatric consultation can be made, and early connection to social prevention program for non-fatal patients are possible.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.223-233
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors giving effects to juvenile's suicide thinking and search for the method to protect juveniles from the risk factors of suicide thinking and reinforce protective factors. For this purpose, juvenile's depression and stress degree were analyzed as the factors giving effects to juvenile's suicide thinking and the effect of social support, which was assumed as a protective factor from suicide thinking, was verified. Analysis results are as follows. First, juvenile's daily stress showed significant deference from suicide thinking. There was a significant positive correlation between juvenile's daily life stress and suicide thinking. Therefore, it was found that the juveniles who suffer from stress have a lot of suicide thinking. Second, juvenile's depression gave a significant effect to suicide thinking. There was a significant positive correlation between juvenile's depression and suicide thinking. it was proved that the juveniles who suffer from depression have a lot of suicide thinking. Third, There was a significant negative correlation between social support and suicide thinking. The more the juveniles get social support, the less they have suicide thinking. The study results above reveal that juvenile's suicide shall be approached from the preventive aspect, for preventing juvenile's suicide, social support which mitigates suicide thinking factors is very important. Therefore this study proposed social attention on the juvenile's suicide thinking, and formation social support system that reinforce social support. Moreover, for preventing the factors reinforcing suicide thinking, preventive approach, alternative program such as case management and group program, and integrated management inined with juvenile related organizations and specialists are required. At the same time school environment shall be improved and changed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2006

Object : Nerve growth factor(NGF) is a protein involved in neuronal survival and plasticity in the central nervous system, which might play an important role in stress, depression and suicide. This study was performed to determine whether there is an alteration in plasma NGF concentrations in depressed patients with suicidal attempt. Methods : The subjects were 32 depressed patients who attempted suicide and admitted in emergency room. Forty-four hospitalized non-suicidal depressive patients and the 30 normal controls were closely matched with the suicidal group in terms of age and sex. Individuals in all 3 groups were evaluated independently by a semi-structured interview for the purpose of establishing a DSM-IV criteria diagnosis. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using Hamilton depression rating scale(HDRS). The severity of the suicidal behavior was evaluated by Weisman and Worden's risk-rescue rating(RRR) system and the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale(LSARS). Plasma NGF level was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method. Results : There were no statistically significant differences of the plasma NGF levels among groups. LSARS and RRR did not reveal any significant correlation with ${\beta}$-NGF level in suicidal depressive patients. Conclusion : This study do not support an association between ${\beta}$-NGF and suicidal depression. However it is necessary to investigate this association through other route such as postmortem brain.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2005

Objects:Some studies have suggested that brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), one of the most important neurotrophins, is involved in pathophysiology of depression and suicide. This study was performed to determine whether there is an abnormality in plasma BDNF concentration in suicidal attempters. Methods:The subjects were 71 suicidal attempters who visited emergency rooms in multi-medical centers. All subjects had been interviewed by using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Young Mania Rating Scale(YMRS), and Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). The severity of the suicidal behavior was measured by Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale(LSARS) and Risk-Rescue Rating(RRR) system. Seventy-one age, sex, and diagnosis matched non-suicidal psychiatric patients who were consecutively admitted to a psychiatric ward during the same period recruited as psychiatric controls. They were drug-naive or drug-free at least more than 2 months. In addition, 80 healthy controls were randomly selected as normal controls. Plasma BDNF level was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) methods. Results:In overall F-test, differences of the plasma BDNF levels among the groups were statistically significant(F=20.226, p<0.001). In the multiple comparisons(Scheffe), while mean levels of plasma BDNF between normal controls and non-suicidal psychiatric patients were similar(p=0.984), the BDNF levels of suicidal attempters were lower than those of other two groups(p<0.001). LSARS and RRR did not reveal any significant correlations with BDNF levels in suicidal attempters. Conclusion:These results suggest that reduction of plasma BDNF level is related to suicidal behavior and BDNF level may be a biological marker of suicidal behavior.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2023

Purpose : This study examined the relationship between suicidal thoughts, hand grip strength, socioeconomic status, educational level, and disease occurrence. Methods : Korean national health and nutrition examination survey 2017 were used in this study. 5,449 were analysed. For comparison between groups, cross-tabulation analysis and mean comparison were performed. Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the influencing factors between grip strength and suicidal ideation. Results : Our results are consistent with the literature on the importance of socioeconomic status in health. The lower the level of education, the higher the suicidal thoughts. Being single or divorced was also significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Moreover, a lower income level was significantly associated with a higher suicide intention. Furthermore, older ages, lower educational levels, and lower income were significantly associated with a higher odds ratio of suicidal thoughts. Interestingly, suicidal thoughts were significantly lower among non-smokers. In contrast, suicide intention did not differ significantly according to gender, age, monthly drinking habit, aerobic physical activity, and disease occurrence. Suicidal thoughts decreased as grip strength increased and this was statistically significant. Socioeconomic status, disease occurrence, and handgrip strength level affected the security of an individual's livelihood and were significant risk factors for suicidal thoughts. These associations remained significant in multiple logistic regression even after controlling for all covariates. Conclusion : Future prevention intervention efforts to reduce suicide risks should consider handgrip strength. Studies to explore the possible proximal risk factors and mediators between handgrip strength and suicidal thoughts are also warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.100-108
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of clinical art therapy programs utilized at schools on adolescents' suicidal thoughts and stress relief and to validate their effectiveness as a type of adolescent suicide prevention program. Methods: 12 sessions of clinical art therapy for youth suicide prevention were provided, once a week for 90 minutes, for 20 students at five middle schools in Seoul who were at high risk of committing suicide. By using the paired sample t-test, the study presented qualitative data on the analysis of pre- and post- questionnaires and on the subjects' EEG test and saliva test. Results: First, through the clinical art therapy program, the subjects' happiness index improved significantly while their scores of depression and suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts) decreased. Second, in the EEG and saliva test conducted after the art therapy sessions, emotional stability increased and stress was reduced significantly. Third, according to the results of pre- and post- K-HTP tests and individual activities, the subjects started to recognize the seriousness of suicide and show emotional stability and positive changes in overall attitudes, valuing the rights and life of their own 'precious selves' (self respect). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the clinical art therapy program is significantly effective at preventing suicidal ideation by reducing suicidal impulses and depression, by increasing the happiness index, which can serve as a protective factor against suicide, and by increasing emotional stability while reducing stress. Based on the results, there is a need to develop policy measures regarding art therapy programs which can be utilized at schools.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.151-160
• /
• 2019

Korea has the highest suicide rate among the OECD countries, and the suicide rate is highest among young adults in their 20s, most of whom are university students. Therefore, suicide among Korean university students is a public health issue that is of interest to us. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the suicidal ideation of university students in Korea, and to use them as a basis to establish effective intervention for university suicide prevention through it. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using convenience sampling method. The participants were 344 university students at universities in S and G cities. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis using with the SPSS/Win 23.0 program. There was a significant correlation between depression (r=.45, p<.001), drinking alcohol (r=.14, p=.008), social support (r=-.26, p<.001), quality of life (r=-.46, p<.001), and suicidal ideation. In the first step of hierarchical regression analysis, satisfaction of school life (${\beta}=.198$, p<.001) was the significant factor influencing the suicidal ideation. Explanatory power was 25.2%. In the second step of the hierarchical regression analysis, absence of parents (${\beta}=-.095$, p=.044), depression (${\beta}=.247$, p<.001), quality of life (${\beta}=-.280$, p<.001), and explanatory power were increased to 42.0%. The results of the study indicate the need to actively identify the group of university students in their 20s with high risk of suicide through continuous evaluation of depression, and to improve the quality of life as a method of preventing suicide. In addition, the effect of absence of parents on the suicidal ideation among Korean university students suggests that parental support may play an important role in suicide prevention.

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

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2020

Objective : The suicide mortality rate among Koreans was ranked first among the OECD countries in 2018. Alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for suicidal behavior. This study examined the relationship between the severity of subjects' drinking habits and the suicidal ideation among Koreans according to gender and age. Methods : The data of 113,602 people who visited the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Health Screening Center from January 2013 to December 2014 were used. The severity of subjects' harmful drinking habits was assessed using the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-K). The relationship between the severity of harmful drinking and suicidal ideation was compared using logistic regression analyses. We also examined the tendency through p for trend to identify a trend. Results : Of the 113,602 study subjects, 6,586 (5.8%) responded that they had thought of committing suicide. After controlling for gender, marriage, education, body mass index (BMI), depression and anxiety, the results showed that the higher the level of harmful drinking, the higher the suicidal ideation. Conclusion : This study found that, even after controlling depression and anxiety, the severity of drinking could be a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.60-70
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to promote an understanding of suicidal ideation and identify the factors that influence suicide ideation according to the life cycle of Korean adults. This study was a secondary analysis study using the Korea Health Panel 2016 data. Among adults over 19 years of age, 14,538 people with no missing values in suicidal ideation and influencing factors were classified into young adults (19-39 years old), middle-aged adults (40-64 years old), and the elderly (65 years or over). The data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. The results showed that 2.9% (108 people) of young adults, 3.2% (181 people) of middle-aged adults, and 3.7% (80 people) of the elderly had suicide ideation over the past year. Factors influencing suicidal ideation by life cycle were anxiety, depression, drug use and quality of life for young adults, subjective health status, stress, anxiety, depression, drug use and quality of life for middle-aged adults. The factors affecting the elderly were body mass index, stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Therefore, factors influencing suicidal ideation should be considered as a major factor for screening risk groups according to the life cycle, and differentiated intervention programs should be developed and provided to prevent and manage suicide in risk groups.