© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group, Royal College of Psychiatrists, & British Psychological Society
Prevalence
17% of people with traumatic brain injury attempted suicide
Simpson G, Tate R. Suicidality after traumatic brain injury: demographic, injury and clinical correlates. Psychological Medicine 2002 May; 32: 687–98.[CrossRef][Medline]
QUESTION: What is the prevalence and correlates of suicidality following traumatic brain injury?
Key Words: risk factors • suicide
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Cross sectional study.
One hospital brain injury rehabilitation unit; Sydney Australia.
All hospital outpatients with traumatic brain injury sustained between the ages of 16–65 were invited to participate over a 24 month period. 172 of 181 accepted. Exclusion criteria were people attending the outpatient clinic for the first time; inability to speak English or answer survey items, and brain injury within the past 12 months. Mean age at injury was 31 years; mean time post-injury was 5 years; 23% were women.
Suicide ideation and hopelessness were assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Data were collected on self-reported suicide attempts; known suicide risk factors, and demographic, injury and psychosocial factors.
35% of participants had clinically significant levels of hopelessness, 23% had suicidal ideation and 17% attempted suicide over a mean of 5 years following traumatic brain injury. Suicide attempts were correlated with emotional and
Department of Psychology
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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