The factorial structure of the Suicide Intent Scale: a comparative study in clinical samples from 11 European regions.

Although the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) is a widely used instrument in research on suicidal behavior, comparative research on the latent structure of the SIS has been neglected. To determine whether a general factor model of the SIS is supported, alternative factor models of the SIS were evaluated comparatively in 11 clinical samples. The SIS was applied as part of a structured clinical interview to patients after an episode of non-fatal suicidal behavior. The samples were drawn from 11 study centers within the frame of the WHO/EURO multicenter study on suicidal behavior. Three different two-factor and two three-factor models of the SIS were examined in each sample using principal component analysis with orthogonal Procrustes rotation. The factorial structure of the 'subjective part' of the SIS (items 9-14) was strongly supported, whereas an acceptable model fit for the 'objective part' was not found. Possible future revisions of 'objective' SIS items may be worth consideration. As a limitation, the results of the study might not generalize to other samples that use different definitions of non-fatal suicidal behavior.

[Classification and predictive quality of the "suicide intent" marker in parasuicides. A cluster analytic study]. / Die klassifikatorische und prädiktive Qualität des Merkmals "suicide intent" bei Parasuiziden. Eine clusteranalytische Untersuchung.

The aim of the study was to investigate the discriminant and predictive quality of "suicide intent" (SIS) in relation to motives for deliberate self-harm (DSH). Cluster analysis was performed in a sample of 137 inpatients admitted to a psychiatric hospital after a DSH episode. Six different subgroups were isolated. The hypothesis was tested that the six groups would reveal distinct patterns of motives and different patterns of repeated DSH episodes during a 12-month observation period. Results indicated that one high-risk group for completed suicide was characterized by the highest death intention and remarkably low interpersonal motives. Two further groups were labeled as "moderate" risk groups. Two groups were found to be characterized by low suicide intent with prevailing patterns of distinct interpersonal oriented motives (manipulative vs appellative), whereas one group revealed an ambiguous motive structure reflecting death orientation and interpersonal motives. The DSH repetition rates were found to be significantly different between certain subgroups. The study results support the assumption that DSH patients represent heterogeneous populations with regard to suicide intent, motives, and the repetition of deliberate self-harm.

["The WHO/EURO Multicenter Study of Suicidal Behavior": results of the Austrian research center (in Tyrol) compared with Europe]. / "Die WHO/EURO-Multicenter-Studie zu suizidalem Verhalten": Ergebnisse des Osterreichischen Forschungszentrums (in Tirol) im europäischen Vergleich.

The article presents findings from the Austrian research center (Hall/the Tyrol) participating in the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study of Suicidal Behaviour compared to the other participating European countries. Between October 1997 and March 1999 a total number of 137 interviews were conducted (70 interviews from the defined catchment area, the city and county of Innsbruck, 67 interviews from other parts of the Tyrol) with psychiatric inpatients admitted due to a parasuicidal act (a non-habitual deliberate self-harm episode). Comparison with the total number of psychiatrically treated parasuicides in Tyrol during the same period of time showed the interviewed sample to be representative of the whole clinical population. It was found that the Austrian sample revealed significantly higher proportions of "hard methods" than the pooled sample from the other participating European centres. A relatively high proportion of deliberate self-harm episodes was found in males. The repetition rate of parasuicides within the first 6 months after the initial parasuicide was very high (14% of the interviewed persons) compared to similar studies. An analysis of psychiatric diagnoses according to ICD-10 showed that more than 50% concerned either affective disorders or psychiatric disorders associated with substance abuse and dependence. The results indicate that the sample constitutes a high risk group for completed suicide.

[Incidence of alcoholism and problem drinking in Austria]. / Die Häufigkeit von Alkoholismus und Problemtrinken in Osterreich.

The prevalence of problem-drinking and alcohol dependence in Austria was assessed on the basis of two random samples of the general population drawn in 1995 (n=216) and in 1996 (n=531). Measurements were performed using the CAGE questionnaire (Mayfield et al. 1974). Both cut-off points (> or = 1, > or = 2) of the CAGE were used. Both samples showed a very similar prevalence of alcoholism. 2.2% (95% confidence interval 1.1-3.9%) of the Austrian adult population could be regarded as alcohol dependent (four positive CAGE answers). Using a cut-off > or = 2, 16-24% of the general population were rated as problem drinkers. The ratio of male to female problem drinking was found to be 3:1; this ratio increased to 4:1 for alcohol dependence. Subjects aged 18 to 59 years were found to be at greatest risk for problem drinking. Alcohol dependence showed an equal distribution among all age groups with a peak prevalence of 3.7% among 45 to 59-year-olds. Significant differences in test scores were found for gender in both samples, and for age in one sample; marital status had no impact on test scores. The findings reported in this study partly confirm the results of Austrian alcohol consumption surveys. Although our prevalence estimates rely on self-report and need to be validated by future epidemiological interview studies, the results indicate that alcoholism and problem drinking pose a major public health problem.

[Subjective perception of social support in the population]. / Subjektive Wahrnehmung von sozialer Unterstützung in der Bevölkerung.

The ISEL scale (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List) has been developed to assess social support. Despite good reliability and validity of the original scale the German version has been rately applied. Thus, perceived social support as measured by the ISEL scale was studied in a general population sample of Tyrol/Austria (n = 216). The reliability of the German ISEL version is as high as the original version. Our results showed that sociodemographic variables significantly influence scale scores: Males and rural subjects indicated more tangible support than females and urban subjects, respectively. Elder people (50-70 years) reported the lowest scale scores, except in tangible support. With the exception of tangible support, significant socioeconomic status differences were found in all dimensions of social support. However, the middle classes showed less social support than upper and lower class subjects. Income only increased tangible support, as higher educational degrees did with self-esteem support. Marital status showed no influence on scale scores, whereas unemployment decreased tangible and belonging support. Our results can be used as preliminary German language norm data for evaluating social support in epidemiological and clinical studies.