Suicide attempts and deliberate self harm in a substance abusing inmate population

Paper 112: Introduction and Aims: This study examined whether male inmates with a history of suicide attempts (SA) and/or deliberate self-harm (DSH) differed on a range of static, trait, environmental and/or current psychological factors including substance abuse. Design and Methods: Eighty-seven participants were allocated to four groups based on SA and DSH history. The four groups were compared: SA, SA/DSH, DSH and comparison group (inmates with no history of SA or DSH). Information regarding substance abuse was collected during clinical assessment (semi-structured and structured) and gathered from the electronic file. Results: The most common diagnosis in the overall sample was drug abuse. The DSH and SA/DSH group had higher levels of methadone use, and the DSH group higher levels of drug abuse, than the SA group. Methadone use, however, did not distinguish the SA, SA/DSH or DSH group from the comparison group. Discussion and Conclusions: In general DSH, not suicidality, appears to be associated with higher levels of illicit substance abuse, psychopathology and criminality and the comorbidity of SA and DSH with the highest levels of state/trait disturbance. Implications for Policy or Practice: It may be that alcohol and other drug rehabilitation and programs which address criminogenic needs such as antisocial traits may also reduce DSH. Suicide risk, however, remains difficult to detect except where there is comorbid DSH.