Biomedical subjects

Heidi Hjelmeland

Publications and source records attributed to Heidi Hjelmeland.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A discussion of the value of cross-cultural studies in search of the meaning(s) of suicidal behavior and the methodological challenges of such studies.

The main purposes of this study was to test the psychometric properties of a questionnaire on attitudes towards suicide in a cross-cultural setting, and to discuss the value of cross-cultural studies in the search of meaning(s) of suicidal behavior as well as the methodological challenges encountered in such studies. Data on attitudes towards suicide among health and social science students from Norway and Uganda were employed to illustrate the points made. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed different factor structures in the two countries. Whether this result is due to different latent variables indicating differences in meaning(s) of suicidal behavior between the two countries or lack of reliability and/or validity of the instrument is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Problem-solving ability and repetition of deliberate self-harm: a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: While recent studies have found problem-solving impairments in individuals who engage in deliberate self-harm (DSH), few studies have examined repeaters and non-repeaters separately. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether specific types of problem-solving are associated with repeated DSH. METHOD: As part of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour, 836 medically treated DSH patients (59% repeaters) from 12 European regions were interviewed using the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule (EPSIS II) approximately 1 year after their index episode. The Utrecht Coping List (UCL) assessed habitual responses to problems. RESULTS: Factor analysis identified five dimensions--Active Handling, Passive-Avoidance, Problem Sharing, Palliative Reactions and Negative Expression. Passive-Avoidance--characterized by a pre-occupation with problems, feeling unable to do anything, worrying about the past and taking a gloomy view of the situation, a greater likelihood of giving in so as to avoid difficult situations, the tendency to resign oneself to the situation, and to try to avoid problems--was the problem-solving dimension most strongly associated with repetition, although this association was attenuated by self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of the study indicate that treatments for DSH patients with repeated episodes should include problem-solving interventions. The observed passivity and avoidance of problems (coupled with low self-esteem) associated with repetition suggests that intensive therapeutic input and follow-up are required for those with repeated DSH.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Repetition of deliberate self-harm as seen in Uganda.

Described is the presentation of repetition of deliberate self-harm (DSH) as seen in an African population in urban Uganda. A Luganda version (local language in study area) of the modified European Parasuicide Interview Schedule I (EPSIS I) was used to collect the data. An univariate analysis was conducted. Results indicated that repeaters of DSH differed significantly from non-repeaters on several dimensions. The factors included were: more often single, less often had children, staying alone or with their parents, reported sexual problems as a precipitant of current DSH event, more negative life events in childhood and less negative life events in the last year. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis was conducted resulting in only sexual problems and the psychological factor of trait anger, which retained statistical significance. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Psychological factors in deliberate self-harm as seen in a urban African population in Uganda: a case-control study.

Psychological factors associated with deliberate self-harm (DSH) as seen in an African population in Uganda are described. A case-control study design was employed in which a Luganda version (predominant language in the study area) of the modified European Parasuicide Interview Schedule I (EPSIS I) was used to collect data. The controls were patients admitted to the participating hospitals for non-recurrent medical conditions. Hopelessness, global psychological distress, and state anger, but not depression, were significantly associated with DSH after controlling for other factors. Both depression and hopelessness were significantly associated with suicidal intent independent of each other. Differences were observed on the psychological factors associated with suicidal intent in the different age/sex groups and in the depressed/nondepressed group. Interventions for DSH in this population should include treatments for both depression and hopelessness. This study further raises questions about the universality of the structural relationship among depression, hopelessness, and suicidality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Deliberate self-harm as seen in Kampala, Uganda - a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: A study to investigate deliberate self-harm (DSH) in an African context was undertaken in Uganda. METHODS: A case-control study in which 100 cases of DSH and 300 controls matched on age and sex were recruited from three general hospitals in Kampala and subjected to a structured interview using a modified version of the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule I. RESULTS: Among the cases, 63% were males, with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1 and a peak age range of 20-24 years. Higher educational attainment, higher socio-economic class and poor housing were significantly associated with DSH. District of current residence, district of birth, religion, ethnicity, marital status, number of children, current living arrangement, area of usual residence, employment status of respondent and partner were not significantly associated with DSH. Pesticides and medications, mainly antimalarials and diazepam, were the main methods of DSH used. The most commonly reported psychiatric disorders were adjustment disorder, acute stress reactions and depression. CONCLUSION: DSH in Uganda appears to predominantly afflict the young. Disturbed interpersonal relationships, poverty and loneliness were important factors in the immediate precipitation of this behaviour. The fact that pesticide poisoning is still the predominantly used method in DSH in this area calls for a review of the legislation that controls the sale and availability of these agricultural chemicals.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The general public's views on suicide and suicide prevention, and their perception of participating in a study on attitudes towards suicide.

The aim of the presented study was to investigate whether common myths about suicide still prevail, what people in general think are the most common causes for suicide, whether suicide can be prevented, and if so, how. How subjects perceived their participation in a study on attitudes towards suicidal behavior, was also investigated. The Attitudes Towards Suicide questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 1,000 Norwegians. The data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results showed that the common myths still prevail, that people in general mainly assign intrapersonal causes to suicide, with the belief that suicide can be prevented, and that they perceived their participation in the study positively. The value of the general public in suicide prevention and the need for increased openness and competence building were emphasized.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

The communicative aspect of nonfatal suicidal behavior--are there gender differences?

Data from the Norwegian part of the WHO/EURO Multicenter Study on Suicidal Behavior were used to investigate gender differences in the communicative aspect of nonfatal suicidal behavior by means of analyzing precipitating factors, intentions involved in and effects of the suicidal act within the frame of Qvortrup's interpretation of speech-act theory. Eighty-nine patients (48 women and 41 men) were included in the analyses, virtually no gender differences were found. Thus, in general, the results did not support the view that persons engaging in nonfatal suicidal behavior should receive different treatment or follow-up as a group based on their gender. The results gave some support to Qvortrup's speech-act theory and his four categories of suicidal behavior, emotional toward others, regulative toward others, emotional toward oneself and regulative toward oneself.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Why people engage in parasuicide: a cross-cultural study of intentions.

Information obtained at interview from 1,646 parasuicide patients in 14 regions in 13 European countries participating in the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour was used to study self-reported intentions involved in parasuicide. Comparisons were made across cultures, genders, and age groups. Although some statistically significant differences were found, the effect sizes were very small. The main finding from this study is thus that parasuicide patients in different countries tend to indicate that similar types of intentions are involved in their acts of parasuicide, and that the intentions do not vary greatly with gender or age. The hypothesis that rates of suicide and parasuicide vary between regions with the frequency with which suicidal intention is indicated by the patients was also tested, but was supported only for women and in relation to national suicide rates. The findings from this study are likely to be generalizable to other settings and have implications for clinical practice.

Adolescent↗