TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between childhood trauma and lifetime suicide attempts among a sample of male prisoners
T2 - A pilot observational study
AU - Capuzzi, Enrico
AU - Caldiroli, Alice
AU - Besana, Filippo
AU - Tagliabue, Ilaria
AU - Capellazzi, Martina
AU - Cova, Francesca
AU - Rubelli, Paola
AU - Sergio, Maria Ripalta
AU - Truisi, Emanuele
AU - Buoli, Massimiliano
AU - Clerici, Massimo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Background: Prisoners have higher rates of suicide attempts compared with general population. A history of childhood trauma (CT) is common among incarcerated subjects and it is a well-known risk factor for lifetime suicide attempts. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether lifetime suicide attempts may be related to the exposition to CT among male prisoners. Method: We conducted a cross sectional study recruiting newly arrived inmates in an Italian jail, between January 2017 and June 2018. Prisoners were interviewed to collect socio-demographic and clinical information. Moreover, inmates completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We excluded prisoners unable to speak or read Italian, with learning disabilities or current severe psychiatric symptoms. Results: A total of 215 consecutive male inmates were included. Fifty-one prisoners (23.7%) had a history of attempted suicide. The most reported CT was physical neglect. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect and psychiatric diagnosis significantly increased the likelihood of lifetime suicide attempt. Conclusions: A previous history of suicide attempt is highly prevalent among inmates. In agreement with previous findings, lifetime suicide attempts seem to be associated with the presence of CT and psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, CT should be considered as a relevant variable to improve the programs for the prevention of suicide in prison.
AB - Background: Prisoners have higher rates of suicide attempts compared with general population. A history of childhood trauma (CT) is common among incarcerated subjects and it is a well-known risk factor for lifetime suicide attempts. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether lifetime suicide attempts may be related to the exposition to CT among male prisoners. Method: We conducted a cross sectional study recruiting newly arrived inmates in an Italian jail, between January 2017 and June 2018. Prisoners were interviewed to collect socio-demographic and clinical information. Moreover, inmates completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We excluded prisoners unable to speak or read Italian, with learning disabilities or current severe psychiatric symptoms. Results: A total of 215 consecutive male inmates were included. Fifty-one prisoners (23.7%) had a history of attempted suicide. The most reported CT was physical neglect. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect and psychiatric diagnosis significantly increased the likelihood of lifetime suicide attempt. Conclusions: A previous history of suicide attempt is highly prevalent among inmates. In agreement with previous findings, lifetime suicide attempts seem to be associated with the presence of CT and psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, CT should be considered as a relevant variable to improve the programs for the prevention of suicide in prison.
KW - Childhood trauma
KW - Mental disorder
KW - Prisoners
KW - Suicidal behavior
KW - Suicide attempt
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102180
DO - 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102180
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105735898
VL - 80
JO - Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
JF - Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
SN - 1752-928X
M1 - 102180
ER -