Trajectories in suicide attempt method lethality over a five-year period: Associations with suicide attempt repetition, all-cause, and suicide mortality

Abstract

It is not known if there are discernible patterns in method lethality over successive episodes of self-harm and, if so, how these may be differentially associated with risks of self-harm repetition and suicide. Latent trajectory modelling estimated variation in patterns of suicide attempt lethality in 1, 719 individuals attended by ambulance services on at least three occasions between 2012 and 2016. Cox regression modelling investigated hazards of suicide attempt repetition, all-cause, and suicide mortality as a function of these patterns. Two distinct trajectories provided optimal fit (BIC: -39, 464.92). The first (Low/Moderate to Low/ Moderate Lethality group; 92.5%) consisted of those co..