A Controlled Study to Analyze Psychological Aspects and Psychiatric Morbidity Amongst People who Attempt Suicide.
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Date
2011-04
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Abstract
Background : Suicide is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon. Attempted suicide has a
bearing on future attempts/completion, a correlation with psychosocial factors and psychiatric
disorders and these factors have an effect on suicide prevention. Aim : To compare people who
attempt suicide and controls in regard to psychosocial aspects and psychiatric morbidity and
to find out the factors leading to attempted suicide. Methods : Consecutive 40 cases of attempted
suicide and 40 controls of either sex between 16-35 years of age studied till tenth standard
referred to the department of Psychiatry from various super speciality departments in Sir Ganga
Ram Hospital were recruited in the study over a period of 18 months after ensuring their
medical stability and after obtaining their consent. The subjects were assessed using semistructured
proforma covering socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patient and
his/her illness and by using the following tools : Cattelle’s 16 personality factors test(16 PF),
Frustration test, Family relationship inventory, Presumptive Stressful life event scale, Beck’s
depression inventory, Beck’s suicidal intent scale, Smith’s lethality of suicide attempt scale,
MINI-plus and Kuppuswamy’s Socio-economic Status Scale. Results : The study showed female
preponderance amongst attempters and 67.5% came from a nuclear family background
(p=0.000). 25% of the suicide attempters had made an earlier past suicide attempt and 15%
had a family history of attempted or completed suicide (p=0.011). Benzodiazepine overdose
was the most common method (37.5%) of attempting suicide followed by organophosphorus
poisoning (30%).For attempters, mean scores for frustration, and acceptance and concentration
variables on family relationship inventory were statistically significant (p=0.000).Psychiatric
disorders were present in 65% of the attempted suicide cases and results were statistically
significant for undesirable life events in the past and lifetime in attempters.Conclusions : The
present study revealed that lack of family cohesion and relationship/marital problems with
more undesirable life events in the past and lifetime are important factors for attempted suicide.
High levels of frustration, low family acceptance and high family concentration are predictors
of attempting suicide later.
Description
Keywords
Suicide attempters, lethality, method
Citation
Grover Ridhima, Wadhawan J M, Anand Arti, Rao B K. A Controlled Study to Analyze Psychological Aspects and Psychiatric Morbidity Amongst People who Attempt Suicide. Delhi Psychiatry journal. 2011 Apr; 14 (1): 9-18.