Clinical Characteristics and Psychosocial Correlates of Suicide Attempts: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a major public health problem and a leading cause of preventable mortality worldwide. Suicide attempts are substantially more common than completed suicides and represent the strongest predictor of future suicide. Understanding the socio-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of individuals who attempt suicide is essential for identifying high-risk populations and developing effective prevention strategies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as India.

Aim: To evaluate the socio-demographic profile, clinical characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, methods of suicide attempt, and psychosocial correlates among adults presenting with suicide attempts to a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai, South India. Medical records of adults (≥18 years) presenting with suicide attempts between January and December 2023 were reviewed. Of 84 eligible records screened, 56 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, methods of suicide attempt, psychiatric diagnoses, psychosocial precipitants, substance use, family history, previous suicide attempts, and hospitalization details were collected using a semi-structured data extraction proforma. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages, and associations were analysed using the Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Among the 56 participants, 66.1% were females, and 58.9% belonged to the 18–30-year age group. Self-poisoning was the predominant method of suicide attempt (62.5%), with rodenticide poisoning (23.2%) being the most common subtype, followed by drug overdose (33.9%). Marital conflict (25.0%) and interpersonal conflict (23.2%) were the leading psychosocial precipitants. Depression was the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis (41.1%), followed by adjustment disorder (21.4%). Previous suicide attempts were documented in 32.1% of participants and were significantly associated with the interval between successive attempts (p < 0.001). Most participants attempted suicide while alone (67.9%), and alcohol was the most commonly reported substance among those with substance use (26.8%).

Conclusion: Suicide attempts in this cohort predominantly involved young adults and women and were strongly associated with depression, interpersonal stressors, and self-poisoning. Previous suicide attempts significantly increased the likelihood of recurrence, highlighting the importance of long-term follow-up. Strengthening early identification of psychiatric disorders, comprehensive psychosocial assessment, family-based interventions, responsible prescribing practices, and restriction of access to highly lethal means may substantially reduce the burden of suicidal behaviour and improve suicide prevention in similar healthcare settings.