Research Article

Suicide attempts versus nonsuicidal self-injury among individuals with anxiety disorders in a nationally representative sample

  1. Hayley Chartrand B.A. (Hons)1,
  2. Jitender Sareen M.D. F.R.C.P.C.1,2,3,
  3. Matthew Toews M.D.2,
  4. James M. Bolton M.D.F.R.C.P.C.1,2,*

Article first published online: 21 SEP 2011

DOI: 10.1002/da.20882

Issue

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety

Volume 29, Issue 3, pages 172–179, March 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chartrand, H., Sareen, J., Toews, M. and Bolton, J. M. (2012), Suicide attempts versus nonsuicidal self-injury among individuals with anxiety disorders in a nationally representative sample. Depress. Anxiety, 29: 172–179. doi: 10.1002/da.20882

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada

  2. 2

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada

*Correspondence to: James Bolton, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Manitoba, PZ430-771 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3E 3N4

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 APR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 21 SEP 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 8 JUL 2011
  4. Manuscript Revised: 26 JUN 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 DEC 2010

Funded by

  • Manitoba Health Research Council. Grant Number: 310547-341800-2000
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fredrick Banting
  • Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship–Masters Award
  • CIHR Health Professional Student Research Award

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Keywords:

  • suicide attempts;
  • anxiety disorders;
  • epidemiology;
  • Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiological Surveys;
  • nonsuicidal self-injury

Abstract

Background

This study is aimed to determine whether anxiety disorders are associated with suicide attempts with intent to die and to further investigate the characteristics of deliberate self-harm (DSH) among anxiety disorders.

Method

Data came from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiological Surveys (N = 20,130; age 18 years and older; response rate = 72.3%). DSM-IV anxiety disorders were assessed using the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview. People with an anxiety disorder endorsing a history of DSH were subcategorized as those who made suicide attempts (n = 159; individuals who intended to die), versus those who made nonsuicidal self-injuries (n = 85; individuals who did not intend to die).

Results

Anxiety disorders were associated with both suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). People with generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia who engaged in DSH were more likely to have made a suicide attempt than a NSSI, independent of the effects of mood and substance use disorders. In addition, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia who engaged in DSH were more likely to engage in this behavior multiple times, and at least one of those times was a suicide attempt.

Conclusion

This study suggests that anxiety disorders are associated with suicide attempts with intent to die. Social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder appear to be associated with the more worrisome patterns of DSH including multiple suicide attempts. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–8, 2011.© 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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