Classification of Korean Suicide Attempters and Comparison of Characteristics between Subgroups

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the structure in populations of suicide attempters is essential to establish the effective suicide prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to explore subgroups among Korean suicide attempters in terms of details of the suicide attempt.

Methods: We analyzed a sample of 900 suicide attempters who were treated in the emergency room due to the suicide attempt. Rating variables concerned demographic characteristics, clinical information, and details of the suicide attempt including suicidal intent and lethality assessed by Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). A cluster analysis was performed using the Ward method.

Results: Two subgroups were identified. A majority of our sample fell into a subgroup characterized by less planning, methods of low lethality and ambivalence towards death (unplanned). The other subgroup made more severe and well-planned attempt, using high lethal methods and taking more precautions to avoid being interrupted (planned). We also examined differences in demographic and clinical variables between two subgroups: the unplanned subgroup was predominantly females and more likely to be under psychiatric treatment while the planned subgroup was associated with more males, older age, and physical illness.

Conclusions: Cluster analysis extracted two distinct subgroups of Korean suicide attempters. The understanding that a significant portion of suicide attempts in South Korea occur impulsively calls for the development of new prevention strategies tailored to different profiles of subgroups.