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. 2023 Nov;44(6):525-528.
doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000897. Epub 2023 Jan 13.

Misclassification of Self-Directed Violence

Tobias Teismann  1 , Jannik Julian Eimen  1 , Jan Christopher Cwik  2
Affiliations

Misclassification of Self-Directed Violence

Tobias Teismann et al. Crisis. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Classification of acts of self-directed violence has been shown to be inadequate in past research. Furthermore, level of expertise have been shown to be unrelated to classification correctness. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether participants provided with a definition are more reliable in their judgment than participants without a definition. Method: Two hundred sixty-one participants (psychology students, psychotherapists-in-training) were presented with case vignettes describing different acts of self-directed violence and were asked to make a classification. On the basis of randomized allocation, half of the participants received a definition of the different acts of self-directed violence, whereas the others did not. Results: Overall, 24.9% of the cases were misclassified. The presentation of a definition was not accompanied by a higher classification accuracy. Limitations: There may be issues about the validity of the case vignettes. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of more methodological training of psychologists regarding suicidal issues.

Keywords: classification; nonsuicidal self-directed violence; suicide; suicide attempt.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentages of correct diagnostic decisions of participants for all case vignettes.Note. Def = definition provided; NoDef = no definition provided; S = suicide; SI = suicide ideation; SA = suicide attempt; SA_IO = suicide attempt interrupted by others; SA_IS = suicide attempt interrupted by self; NEI = not enough information; NSSI = nonsuicidal self-directed violence; OSB = other suicidal behavior; UID = unintentional injury death.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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