Self-Immolation in Kermanshah City, Iran; a Serious Suicide Intention?

Aims The reason of selecting self-immolationas a mean to commit suicide is unclear. This study was designed to compare 2 groups of people with and without intention to suicide that had self-immolated. Instrument Methods All 227 self-immolated patients who had been admitted to theburn unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital of Kermanshah City, Iran, during 2003 to 2004 participated in this cross-sectional study. All the samples and their families were interviewed and a psychiatrist completed DSM-IV symptom checklist. Data were analyzed by SPSS 11 using descriptive statistic methods, two-sample T and Chi-square tests. Findings 126 of the patients (55.5%) had suicidal intent and 97 (42.7%) reported prior suicidal plan.The mortality rate of the suicidal intent patients was 61.1% and non-suicidal intent patients was 36.6%. Personality disorder was the only psychiatric problem that was significantly different between two groups of patients with and without intent of suicide. Conclusion Self-immolation cannot be considered as a suicidal attempt in Kermanshah City, Iran.