The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation: Results from two UK population-based cohorts

Jonathan D. Hafferty; L. B. Navrady; M. J. Adams; D. M. Howard; A. I. Campbell; H. C. Whalley; S. M. Lawrie; K. K. Nicodemus; D. J. Porteous; I. J. Deary; A. M. Mcintosh

doi:10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7

The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation: Results from two UK population-based cohorts

Jonathan D. Hafferty, L. B. Navrady, M. J. Adams, D. M. Howard, A. I. Campbell, H. C. Whalley, S. M. Lawrie, K. K. Nicodemus, D. J. Porteous, I. J. Deary, A. M. Mcintosh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Background
Self-harm is common, debilitating and associated with completed suicide and increased all-cause mortality, but there is uncertainty about its causal risk factors, limiting risk assessment and effective management. Neuroticism is a stable personality trait associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation, and correlated with coping styles, but its value as an independent predictor of these outcomes is disputed.

Methods
Prior history of hospital-treated self-harm was obtained by record-linkage to administrative health data in Generation Scotland:Scottish Family Health Study (N = 15,798; self-harm cases = 339) and by a self-report variable in UK Biobank (N = 35,227; self-harm cases = 772). Neuroticism in both cohorts was measured using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Form. Associations of neuroticism with self-harm were tested using multivariable regression following adjustment for age, sex, cognitive ability, educational attainment, socioeconomic deprivation, and relationship status. A subset of GS:SFHS was followed-up with suicidal ideation elicited by self-report (n = 3342, suicidal ideation cases = 158) and coping styles measured by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. The relationship of neuroticism to suicidal ideation, and the role of coping style, was then investigated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results
Neuroticism was positively associated with hospital-associated self-harm in GS:SFHS (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.2 95% credible interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 0.0003) and UKB (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.1 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 9.8 × 10−17). Neuroticism, and the neuroticism-correlated coping style, emotion-oriented coping (EoC), were also associated with suicidal ideation in multivariable models.

Conclusions
Neuroticism is an independent predictor of hospital-treated self-harm risk. Neuroticism and emotion-orientated coping styles are also predictive of suicidal ideation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1505-1518
Journal	Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume	54
Issue number	12
Early online date	23 May 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7
Publication status	Published - Dec 2019

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

neuroticism
self-harm
record-linkage
coping
ideation

Access to Document

10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

HaffertyEtalSPPE2019TheRoleOfNeuroticismInSelfHarmFinal published version, 1.53 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

Stratifying Resilience and Depression Longitudinally
McIntosh, A., Deary, I., Evans, K., Haley, C. & Porteous, D.
UK-based charities
1/01/15 → 30/06/21
Project: Research
RA2661 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2. Main Budget.
Deary, I., Gale, C., Holmes, M., Logie, P., Maclullich, A., Porteous, D., Seckl, J., Starr, J., Wardlaw, J. & Okely, J.
1/09/13 → 31/08/19
Project: Research
Generation Scotland
Porteous, D.
UK central government bodies/local authorities, health and hospital authorities
1/04/11 → 31/03/14
Project: Research

Cite this

Hafferty, J. D., Navrady, L. B., Adams, M. J., Howard, D. M., Campbell, A. I., Whalley, H. C., Lawrie, S. M., Nicodemus, K. K., Porteous, D. J., Deary, I. J., & Mcintosh, A. M. (2019). The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation: Results from two UK population-based cohorts. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 54(12), 1505-1518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7

@article{79b6f8f2c5b044c6bc33785a66b92ca2,

title = "The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation: Results from two UK population-based cohorts",

abstract = "BackgroundSelf-harm is common, debilitating and associated with completed suicide and increased all-cause mortality, but there is uncertainty about its causal risk factors, limiting risk assessment and effective management. Neuroticism is a stable personality trait associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation, and correlated with coping styles, but its value as an independent predictor of these outcomes is disputed.MethodsPrior history of hospital-treated self-harm was obtained by record-linkage to administrative health data in Generation Scotland:Scottish Family Health Study (N = 15,798; self-harm cases = 339) and by a self-report variable in UK Biobank (N = 35,227; self-harm cases = 772). Neuroticism in both cohorts was measured using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Form. Associations of neuroticism with self-harm were tested using multivariable regression following adjustment for age, sex, cognitive ability, educational attainment, socioeconomic deprivation, and relationship status. A subset of GS:SFHS was followed-up with suicidal ideation elicited by self-report (n = 3342, suicidal ideation cases = 158) and coping styles measured by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. The relationship of neuroticism to suicidal ideation, and the role of coping style, was then investigated using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsNeuroticism was positively associated with hospital-associated self-harm in GS:SFHS (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.2 95% credible interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 0.0003) and UKB (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.1 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 9.8 × 10−17). Neuroticism, and the neuroticism-correlated coping style, emotion-oriented coping (EoC), were also associated with suicidal ideation in multivariable models.ConclusionsNeuroticism is an independent predictor of hospital-treated self-harm risk. Neuroticism and emotion-orientated coping styles are also predictive of suicidal ideation.",

keywords = "neuroticism, self-harm, record-linkage, coping, ideation",

author = "Hafferty, {Jonathan D.} and Navrady, {L. B.} and Adams, {M. J.} and Howard, {D. M.} and Campbell, {A. I.} and Whalley, {H. C.} and Lawrie, {S. M.} and Nicodemus, {K. K.} and Porteous, {D. J.} and Deary, {I. J.} and Mcintosh, {A. M.}",

year = "2019",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7",

language = "English",

volume = "54",

pages = "1505--1518",

journal = "Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology",

issn = "0933-7954",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "12",

}

Hafferty, JD, Navrady, LB, Adams, MJ, Howard, DM, Campbell, AI , Whalley, HC , Lawrie, SM , Nicodemus, KK, Porteous, DJ, Deary, IJ & Mcintosh, AM 2019, 'The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation: Results from two UK population-based cohorts', Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 54, no. 12, pp. 1505-1518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation

T2 - Results from two UK population-based cohorts

AU - Hafferty, Jonathan D.

AU - Navrady, L. B.

AU - Adams, M. J.

AU - Howard, D. M.

AU - Campbell, A. I.

AU - Whalley, H. C.

AU - Lawrie, S. M.

AU - Nicodemus, K. K.

AU - Porteous, D. J.

AU - Deary, I. J.

AU - Mcintosh, A. M.

PY - 2019/12

Y1 - 2019/12

N2 - BackgroundSelf-harm is common, debilitating and associated with completed suicide and increased all-cause mortality, but there is uncertainty about its causal risk factors, limiting risk assessment and effective management. Neuroticism is a stable personality trait associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation, and correlated with coping styles, but its value as an independent predictor of these outcomes is disputed.MethodsPrior history of hospital-treated self-harm was obtained by record-linkage to administrative health data in Generation Scotland:Scottish Family Health Study (N = 15,798; self-harm cases = 339) and by a self-report variable in UK Biobank (N = 35,227; self-harm cases = 772). Neuroticism in both cohorts was measured using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Form. Associations of neuroticism with self-harm were tested using multivariable regression following adjustment for age, sex, cognitive ability, educational attainment, socioeconomic deprivation, and relationship status. A subset of GS:SFHS was followed-up with suicidal ideation elicited by self-report (n = 3342, suicidal ideation cases = 158) and coping styles measured by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. The relationship of neuroticism to suicidal ideation, and the role of coping style, was then investigated using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsNeuroticism was positively associated with hospital-associated self-harm in GS:SFHS (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.2 95% credible interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 0.0003) and UKB (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.1 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 9.8 × 10−17). Neuroticism, and the neuroticism-correlated coping style, emotion-oriented coping (EoC), were also associated with suicidal ideation in multivariable models.ConclusionsNeuroticism is an independent predictor of hospital-treated self-harm risk. Neuroticism and emotion-orientated coping styles are also predictive of suicidal ideation.

AB - BackgroundSelf-harm is common, debilitating and associated with completed suicide and increased all-cause mortality, but there is uncertainty about its causal risk factors, limiting risk assessment and effective management. Neuroticism is a stable personality trait associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation, and correlated with coping styles, but its value as an independent predictor of these outcomes is disputed.MethodsPrior history of hospital-treated self-harm was obtained by record-linkage to administrative health data in Generation Scotland:Scottish Family Health Study (N = 15,798; self-harm cases = 339) and by a self-report variable in UK Biobank (N = 35,227; self-harm cases = 772). Neuroticism in both cohorts was measured using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Form. Associations of neuroticism with self-harm were tested using multivariable regression following adjustment for age, sex, cognitive ability, educational attainment, socioeconomic deprivation, and relationship status. A subset of GS:SFHS was followed-up with suicidal ideation elicited by self-report (n = 3342, suicidal ideation cases = 158) and coping styles measured by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. The relationship of neuroticism to suicidal ideation, and the role of coping style, was then investigated using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsNeuroticism was positively associated with hospital-associated self-harm in GS:SFHS (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.2 95% credible interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 0.0003) and UKB (per EPQ-SF unit odds ratio 1.1 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.2, pFDR 9.8 × 10−17). Neuroticism, and the neuroticism-correlated coping style, emotion-oriented coping (EoC), were also associated with suicidal ideation in multivariable models.ConclusionsNeuroticism is an independent predictor of hospital-treated self-harm risk. Neuroticism and emotion-orientated coping styles are also predictive of suicidal ideation.

KW - neuroticism

KW - self-harm

KW - record-linkage

KW - coping

KW - ideation

U2 - 10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7

DO - 10.1007/s00127-019-01725-7

M3 - Article

SN - 0933-7954

VL - 54

SP - 1505

EP - 1518

JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

IS - 12

ER -

The role of neuroticism in self-harm and suicidal ideation: Results from two UK population-based cohorts

Abstract / Description of output

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

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Projects

Stratifying Resilience and Depression Longitudinally

RA2661 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2. Main Budget.

Generation Scotland

Cite this