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High Content Screening Analysis to Evaluate the Toxicological Effects of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents HPHC
Published on: May 10, 2016
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The timing of deliberate self harm behaviour.
1Bootham Park Hospital,York YO30 7BY,England,and Honorary Senior Lecturer,Academic Department of Psychiatry,University of Leeds,England.
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
|October 13, 2018
Summary
Deliberate self harm peaks in the evening, often linked to alcohol use. Completed suicides occur more frequently in the morning, early week, and springtime, influenced by biological and psychosocial factors.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Chronobiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Understanding the temporal patterns of self-harm and suicide is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
- Previous research has suggested variations in the timing of these behaviors, but a comprehensive review is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the scientific literature on the timing of deliberate self-harm behavior and completed suicide.
- To identify diurnal, weekly, and seasonal patterns associated with these events.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of Medline and CINAHL databases (1970-2002).
- Keywords included terms related to self-harm, suicide, and temporal aspects (time, day, week, month, season).
- Inclusion of secondary references and hand searching of key journals.
Main Results:
- Non-fatal self-harm exhibits a diurnal variation with an evening peak, associated with non-violent episodes, alcohol consumption, and younger age.
- Completed suicides are more common in the morning, early in the week, and during springtime.
- No significant increase in completed suicides was observed during national events or holidays.
Conclusions:
- Circadian biological mechanisms, including the serotonin-melatonin axis, cortisol secretion, and sleep disturbances, are implicated in the timing of self-harm and suicide.
- Psychosocial factors such as alcohol use, social isolation, and the 'broken promise' effect may explain observed epidemiological patterns.
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