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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

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Are previous suicide attempts a risk factor for completed suicide?

Adriana Goñi-Sarriés1, Miriam Blanco1, Leire Azcárate2, Rubén Peinado3, and José J. López-Goñi4

1 Servicio Navarro de Salud - Osasunbidea,
2 Centro de Salud Mental (Beasain),
3 Fundación Argibide (Navarra), and
4 Universidad Pública de Navarra

Background: A previous suicide attempt is a clinically relevant factor for completed suicide. In this paper people who committed suicide on their first attempt are compared with those who did so after previous attempts. Method: A review of the Computerised Clinical Histories in the Navarro Health Service-Osasunbidea (2010-2013) in Spain. Results: Of the 166 cases, 31.9% (n = 53) presented at least one prior attempt. Of these 53, 65.3% modified the method of suicide. Women presented significantly more attempts (χ2 = 14.3; df = 3; p = .002). Three sub-samples were identified according to the attempts and diagnoses. The diagnoses of personality disorders (90.9%; n = 10) and women under 51 years of age with a diagnosis of affective, anxiety, or substance abuse disorders (82.4%; n = 14) presented the highest numbers of attempts. People without a psychiatric diagnosis and with psychotic or organic mental disorders presented the smallest proportion of attempts (13.2%; n = 10) together with people over 51 years of age diagnosed with affective, anxiety, or substance abuse disorders (22.5%; n = 9). Conclusions: Prior attempts are suicide risk factors only in specific clinical sub-samples. Prevention and intervention programs should consider these results.

¿El intento de suicidio previo constituye un factor de riesgo para el suicidio consumado? Antecedentes: el intento previo de suicidio es un factor clínicamente relevante para el suicidio consumado. En este trabajo se comparan las personas que se suicidaron en su primer intento con quienes lo hicieron tras intentos previos. Método: revisión de las historias clínicas del Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea (2010-2013). Resultados: de los 166 casos, el 31,9% (n = 53) presentaba algún intento previo. De estos 53, el 65,3% modificó el método de suicidio. Las mujeres presentaban más intentos (χ2 = 14,3; g.l. = 3; p = ,002). Se identificaron tres submuestras: los diagnósticos de trastornos de personalidad (90,9%; n = 10) y las mujeres menores de 51 años con diagnóstico de trastornos afectivos, de ansiedad o por consumo de sustancias (82,4%; n = 14) presentaban los mayores porcentajes de intentos. Las personas sin diagnóstico psiquiátrico, con trastornos psicóticos u orgánicos fueron quienes menor proporción de intentos presentaban (13,2%; n = 10) junto con las personas mayores de 51 años diagnosticadas de trastornos afectivos, de ansiedad o por consumo de sustancias (22,5%; n = 9). Conclusiones: los intentos previos son factores de riesgo únicamente en submuestras clínicas específicas. Los programas de prevención e intervención deberían confeccionarse teniendo en cuenta este resultado.

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Impact factor 2022:  JCR WOS 2022:  FI = 3.6 (Q2);  JCI = 1.21 (Q1) / SCOPUS 2022:  SJR = 1.097;  CiteScore = 6.4 (Q1)