Using Data Linkage to Investigate Inconsistent Reporting of Self-Harm and Questionnaire Non-Response

Arch Suicide Res. 2016;20(2):113-41. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2015.1033121. Epub 2016 Jan 20.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine agreement between self-reported and medically recorded self-harm, and investigate whether the prevalence of self-harm differs in questionnaire responders vs. non-responders. A total of 4,810 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) completed a self-harm questionnaire at age 16 years. Data from consenting participants were linked to medical records (number available for analyses ranges from 205-3,027). The prevalence of self-harm leading to hospital admission was somewhat higher in questionnaire non-responders than responders (2.0 vs. 1.2%). Hospital attendance with self-harm was under-reported on the questionnaire. One third reported self-harm inconsistently over time; inconsistent reporters were less likely to have depression and fewer had self-harmed with suicidal intent. Self-harm prevalence estimates derived from self-report may be underestimated; more accurate figures may come from combining data from multiple sources.

Keywords: ALSPAC; agreement; consistency; data linkage; self-harm; suicide attempt.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Information Storage and Retrieval*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Self Report*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / diagnosis
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / epidemiology
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology