Quick assessment of hopelessness: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Lengthy questionnaires reduce data quality and impose a burden on respondents. Previous researchers proposed that a single item ("My future seems dark to me") and a 4-item component of the Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS) can summarise most of the information the BHS provides. There is no clear indication of what BHS cutoff values are useful in identifying people with suicide tendency. METHODS: In a population-based study of Chinese people aged between 15 and 59 in Hong Kong, the Chinese version of the BHS and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression scale were administered by trained interviewers and suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were self-reported. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis and regression analysis were used to compare the performance of the BHS and its components in identifying people with suicidality and depression. Smoothed level of suicidal tendency was assessed in relation to scores on the BHS and its component to identify thresholds. RESULTS: It is found that the 4-item component and, to a lesser extent, the single item of the BHS perform in ways similar to the BHS. There are non-linear relationship between suicidality and scores on the BHS and the 4-item component; cutoff values identified accordingly have sensitivity and specificity of about 65%. CONCLUSION: The 4-item component is a useful alternative to the BHS. Shortening of psycho-social measurement scales should be considered in order to reduce burden on patients or respondents and to improve response rate

Suicide with psychiatric diagnosis and without utilization of psychiatric service

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Considerable attention has been focused on the study of suicides among those who have received help from healthcare providers. However, little is known about the profiles of suicide deceased who had psychiatric illnesses but made no contact with psychiatric services prior to their death. Behavioural model of health service use is applied to identify factors associated with the utilization of psychiatric service among the suicide deceased.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>With respect to completed suicide cases, who were diagnosed with a mental disorder, a comparison study was made between those who had (contact group; n = 52; 43.7%) and those who had not made any contact (non-contact group; n = 67; 56.3%) with a psychiatrist during the final six months prior to death. A <it>sample </it>of 119 deceased cases aged between 15 and 59 with at least one psychiatric diagnosis assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID I) were selected from a psychological autopsy study in Hong Kong.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The contact and non-contact group could be well distinguished from each other by "<it>predisposing</it>" variables: age group & gender, and most of the "<it>enabling"</it>, and "<it>need" </it>variables tested in this study. Multiple logistic regression analysis has found four factors are statistically significantly associated with non-contact suicide deceased: (i) having non-psychotic disorders (OR = 13.5, 95% CI:2.9-62.9), (ii) unmanageable debts (OR = 10.5, CI:2.4-45.3), (iii) being full/partially/self employed at the time of death (OR = 10.0, CI:1.6-64.1) and (iv) having higher levels of social problem-solving ability (SPSI) (OR = 2.0, CI:1.1-3.6).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The non-contact group was clearly different from the contact group and actually comprised a larger proportion of the suicide population that they could hardly be reached by usual individual-based suicide prevention efforts. For this reason, both universal and strategic suicide prevention measures need to be developed specifically in non-medical settings to reach out to this non-contact group in order to achieve better suicide prevention results.</p

Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults

Background: Self-harm (SH; intentional self-poisoning or self-injury) is common, often repeated, and associated with suicide. This is an update of a broader Cochrane review first published in 1998, previously updated in 1999, and now split into three separate reviews. This review focuses on psychosocial interventions in adults who engage in self-harm. Objectives: To assess the effects of specific psychosocial treatments versus treatment as usual, enhanced usual care or other forms of psychological therapy, in adults following SH. Search methods: The Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group (CCDAN) trials coordinator searched the CCDAN Clinical Trials Register (to 29 April 2015). This register includes relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from: the Cochrane Library (all years), MEDLINE (1950 to date), EMBASE (1974 to date), and PsycINFO (1967 to date). Selection criteria: We included RCTs comparing psychosocial treatments with treatment as usual (TAU), enhanced usual care (EUC) or alternative treatments in adults with a recent (within six months) episode of SH resulting in presentation to clinical services. Data collection and analysis: We used Cochrane's standard methodological procedures

Experience of Chinese suicide survivors in Hong Kong

Live recording from the public lecture organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research Prevention held on 6 December 2005, at the University of Hong KongSpeakers: John R. Jordan (1st presentation), Amy Y.M. Chow (2nd presentation)Information sheets ([3] leaves) with bibliographical references inserted in container1st presentation provides an overview of the research and clinical literature on the prominent emotional themes experienced by suicide survivors, such as heightened guilt, anger, rejection, trauma, and abandonment by the deceased. It also covers factors that may predict an elevated risk for the development of complicated mourning. Utilizing data from a recent pilot study on the needs of suicide survivors, the presenter also identifies interventions that seem to be helpful to many survivors. The content is useful for both clinicians working with survivors and for administrators seeking to develop postvention services for survivorsImpacts of cultural related features for Chinese suicide survivors on the grieving process are discussed in the 2nd presentation and the implications in intervention are delineated. Besides, a series of necessarily procedures required by different departments of the Government are carried out. These procedures are usually perceived as secondary stress of the suicide bereavement and sometimes are even more demanding than the primary stress of vereavement. The procedures required in Hong Kong are briefed and suggestions in minimizing the stress induced are offeredpublished_or_final_versio

自殺與防治的迷思與事實

Speakers: Natalie Tong, Kathy LeungAbout Say yes to life -- People who talk about suicide don't actually commit suicide -- People who attempt suicide are definite about their decision -- Suicide usually takes place with little or no warming -- Talking about suicide leads others to commit suicide -- Sheng ming zai ni shou jian jie -- Tan lun zi sha de ren bu hui zi sha -- Zi sha de ren xin yi hen jian jue -- Zi sha shi hao wu jing hao de -- Tan lun zi sha hui zeng jia zi sha nian touAbout Say yes to life -- People who talk about suicide don't actually commit suicide -- People who attempt suicide are definite about their decision -- Suicide usually takes place with little or no warming -- Talking about suicide leads others to commit suicide -- 生命在你手簡介 -- 談論自殺的人不會自殺 -- 自殺的人心意很堅決 -- 自殺是毫無警號的 -- 談論自殺會增加自殺念頭Title from disc labelProvides some practical tips on how to talk to people who want to commit suicidepublished_or_final_versio

Seminar on understanding depression and suicide

Depression and suicide: a psychological perspective / Dr. Samuel Ho -- Celebrity suicide / Dr. Dominic LeeLive recording from the Seminar, organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research Prevention, held on 15 May 2003, at the University of Hong KongSpeakers, Dr. Samuel Ho (Dept. of Psychology, HKU), Dr. Dominic Lee (Dept. of Psychiatry, CUHK)Dr. Ho gives brief background on what is depression from a psychological perspective, discusses the causes of depression, the relationship between depressionandsuicide, and preventionandtreatment of depression. Dr. Ho talks about celebrity suicide or death and the impact of SARS on mental health. Some stress management strategies are also discussedpublished_or_final_versio

Information disclosure to family caregivers: Applying Thiroux's framework

In the UK, community care has led to more complex relationships for mental health nurses. They need to respect the rights of service users to confidentiality while also respecting the rights of family caregivers to information that directly affects them. An unsatisfactory situation has arisen in which utilitarian and legally driven motives have seen family caregivers' interests become subsidiary to those of service users and providers. An ethical case is made for sharing information with family caregivers, even against the wishes of service users. Through the use of a conceptual framework based on elements proposed by Thiroux – value of life, goodness or rightness, justice or fairness, truth-telling or honesty, and individual freedom – the article concludes that there is an ethical argument for sharing some information with family caregivers and that nurses should respect caregivers' rights through their actions. Nurses' actions are a commitment to seeking what is 'good' by making judgements based on what matters. It is argued that people and their relationships matter more than strict adherence to laws and codes