A Study on Suicidal Risk Analysis

Assessment of suicidal risk factors is an interesting issue to deal with. The present paper is a novel attempt to analyze the factors largely encountered in a suicide scenario. Pierce suicidal intent scale (PSIS) has been chosen to capture the said factors, each having two levels, i.e., moderately or severely present in such a scene as depicted in PSIS. Risk levels (the responses) are also assessed in two levels - moderate and severe risks. A group of patients (irrespective of age, sex, social status, occupations, and any associated illnesses they are chronically suffering from) has been selected for this study with a history of previous suicide- attempt. An experimental design has been created using Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and the relationships among the factors and the responses are statistically determined using multiple regression analysis. It is observed that the risk of committing suicide largely depends on (i) the timing so that none can interfere the act, (ii) acting with clear intention of killing oneself and is premeditated, (iii) the act is so severe that revival with medical attention is quite unlikely, and (iv) the outcome of the act is predictable, i.e., death is the usual outcome. On the other hand, past history of suicide attempt has not added any significant risk, though it is thought to be an important contributor. Such findings could be useful to get seriously identified to the care-givers of those who may attempt suicide during their lifetime. Finally, the performance of the model is validated with the help of a set of real test cases and found to be good in prediction.