Religiosity and Suicide: Findings from a Nation-wide Psychological Autopsy Study

Crisis ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Sorri ◽  
M Henriksson ◽  
J Lönnqvist
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Religious Congregation ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Private Religiosity

Using data from a nationwide psychological autopsy study of all suicides in Finland occurring over a 1-year period, the authors investigated religiosity and its types among suicide victims. Overt active religiosity was identified in 245 (18%) of the victims. A history of psychiatric inpatient treatment and psychotic and depressive disorders diagnosed in psychiatric care were more common among the religious victims than among the nonreligious. The burden of major mental disorders seems to have been heavier among religious than nonreligious victims. The type of religiosity of victims was qualitatively characterized into four categories: (1) help-seeking from a religious congregation, (2) conflict with a religious congregation, (3) private religiosity, and (4) abandoned religiosity. Further research needs to address the psychological contents and psychiatric implications of different types of religiosity among suicidal individuals.

Suicide attempts preceding completed suicide

1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erkki T. Isometsä ◽  
Jouko K. Lönnqvist
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
History Of

BackgroundThis study investigated three questions with major implications for suicide prevention: the sensitivity of the history of previous suicide attempt(s) as an indicator of suicide risk, the time interval from a preceding suicide attempt to the fatal one, and switching of suicide methods by those eventually completing suicide.MethodThe lifetime history of suicide attempts and the methods the victims (n=1397) used were examined in a nationwide psychological autopsy study comprising all suicides in Finland within a 12-month research period in 1987–1988.ResultsOverall, 56% of suicide victims were found to have died at their first suicide attempt, more males (62%) than females (38%). In 19% of males and 39% of females the victim had made a non-fatal attempt during the final year. Of the victims with previous attempts, 82% had used at least two different methods in their suicide attempts (the fatal included).ConclusionsMost male and a substantial proportion of female suicides die in their first suicide attempt, a fact that necessitates early recognition of suicide risk, particularly among males. Recognition of periods of high suicide risk on the grounds of recent non-fatal suicide attempts is likely to be important for suicide prevention among females. Subjects completing suicide commonly switch from one suicide method to another, a finding that weakens but does not negate the credibility of restrictions on the availability of lethal methods as a preventive measure.

Exploring Vulnerability to Suicide in the Developmental History of Young Men: A Psychological Autopsy Study

Death Studies ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 549-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette L. Rasmussen ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud ◽  
Kari Dyregrov
Keyword(s):  
Young Men ◽  
Developmental History ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Suicide in female nurses in England and Wales

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. HAWTON ◽  
S. SIMKIN ◽  
J. RUE ◽  
C. HAW ◽  
F. BARBOUR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Family Background ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Control Comparison ◽  
History Of ◽  
Female Nurses

Background. Female nurses appear to have an increased risk of suicide but the reasons are unknown.Method. We have concluded a study of nurse suicides (N = 106) in England and Wales, including a psychological autopsy study (N = 42) and case–control comparison with living nurses (N = 84).Results. Nearly three-quarters of the nurse suicides had previous contact with psychiatric services and almost half had been psychiatric in-patients in the past. There were particularly marked differences between the cases and controls for current psychiatric disorder (90·5% v. 7·1%, OR = 68·5), personality disorder (38·1% v. 1·2%, OR = 32), and history of deliberate self-harm (71·4% v. 2· 4%, OR = 58·5). Family background and social factors (especially concerning interpersonal relationships) also distinguished the two groups. Smoking and serious alcohol abuse were much more frequent in the suicides. There was some indication that while many of the suicides were in contact with psychiatric services, care may not have been optimal in some cases.Conclusions. The most important strategies for suicide prevention in nurses are in prevention, detection and management of psychiatric disorders. In assessing suicide risk a history of DSH and the presence of comorbid psychiatric and personality disorders are particularly important.

Impulsive-aggressive behaviours and completed suicide across the life cycle: a predisposition for younger age of suicide

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. McGirr ◽  
J. Renaud ◽  
A. Bureau ◽  
M. Seguin ◽  
A. Lesage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Novelty Seeking ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Cluster B Personality Disorders ◽  
Substance Abuse Disorders ◽  
History Of ◽  
Aggressive Behaviours

BackgroundIt is unclear whether the association between impulsive-aggressive behaviours and suicide exists across different ages.MethodVia psychological autopsy, we examined a total of 645 subjects aged 11–87 years who died by suicide. Proxy-based interviews were conducted using the SCID-I & SCID-II or K-SADS interviews and a series of behavioural and personality-trait assessments. Secondarily, 246 living controls were similarly assessed.ResultsHigher levels of impulsivity, lifetime history of aggression, and novelty seeking were associated with younger age of death by suicide, while increasing levels of harm avoidance were associated with increasing age of suicide. This effect was observed after accounting for age-related psychopathology (current and lifetime depressive disorders, lifetime anxiety disorders, current and lifetime substance abuse disorders, psychotic disorders and cluster B personality disorders). Age effects were not due to the characteristics of informants, and such effects were not observed among living controls. When directly controlling for major psychopathology, the interaction between age, levels of impulsivity, aggression and novelty seeking predicted suicide status while controlling for the independent contributions of age and these traits.ConclusionsHigher levels of impulsive-aggressive traits play a greater role in suicide occurring among younger individuals, with decreasing importance with increasing age.

Differences Between Suicide Victims Who Leave Notes and Those Who Do Not

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 344-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonios Paraschakis ◽  
Ioannis Michopoulos ◽  
Athanassios Douzenis ◽  
Christos Christodoulou ◽  
Filippos Koutsaftis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitalization ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Suicide Method ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Residential Status ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Suicide Note ◽  
History Of ◽  
Using Data

Background: Whether differences exist between those who do leave a suicide note and those who do not has not yet been comprehensively answered. Leaving a suicide note is not a random phenomenon: A minority, varying between 3–42%, of all suicide victims leave a note. Aims: To compare the group of suicide victims who leave notes with the ones who do not, using data from the Athens Department of Forensic Medicine, the largest in Greece. Methods: We examined sex, age, nationality, religious beliefs, marital and residential status, history of prior psychiatric disorder and psychiatric attempt(s), suicide method, physical disease, recent hospitalization, and existence of suicide notes. We completed psychological autopsy questionnaires after phone interviews with relatives of the suicide victims of a 2-year period (November 2007–October 2009). Results: Note writers, 26.1% of our sample, differed in the following: they died by hanging or shooting (p = .007), had no history of psychiatric illness (p < .001) or recent (i.e., within 12 months of the suicide) psychiatric hospitalization (p = .005). Conclusions: Our study showed that there are indeed differences between suicide victims who leave a note and those who do not. We also suggest some explanations for these differences, which could represent a valuable starting point for future research on this topic.

Antecedents of suicide in people with schizophrenia

1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannele Heilä ◽  
Erkki T. Isometsä ◽  
Markus M. Henriksson ◽  
Marti E. Heikkinen ◽  
Mauri J. Marttunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Treatment Relationship ◽  
Prevention Project ◽  
History Of ◽  
Illness Phase ◽  
Previous Suicide Attempt

BackgroundSuicides among people with schizophrenia are commonly believed to be impulsive and to occur unexpectedly.MethodAs part of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland, a nationwide psychological autopsy study, suicide victims with DSM-III-R schizophrenia (n=86; n=64 in the active illness phase) and others (n=1 109; n=666 without any evidence for psychosis) were compared for communication of suicidal intent (CSI), as well as previous suicide attempts known by the next of kin and/or an attending health care professional during the latest treatment relationship.ResultsMore victims with schizophrenia (84%) had a history of previous CSI, and/or had made previous suicide attempt(s) than others (70%). Also, victims with active illness schizophrenia (56%) had more CSI and/or had made suicide attempts during their last three months than victims with no psychosis (41%).ConclusionsCSI and/or suicide attempts occur at least as often in people with schizophrenia as in those without schizophrenia, even in the active phase of the illness.

scholarly journals The Role of Self-Esteem in Suicides Among Young Men

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Lyberg Rasmussen ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Antoon A. Leenaars ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Life Challenges ◽  
History Of

This study explores self-esteem in suicide among young males with no earlier history of suicide attempt(s) or treatment in mental health services. The data come from an ongoing psychological autopsy study; 10 cases of young men aged 18 to 30, were selected to generate a phenomenologically based understanding of the psychological mechanisms and processes involved in the suicidal process. The analyses are based on in-depth interviews with 61 closely connected individuals, as well as suicide notes. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. For these young men, the transition to young adulthood, a period of major life challenges, seemed to be associated with personal defeats. According to their significant others, the deceased seemed to have experienced intolerable discrepancies between their actual performances and their ideal self standards. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) striving to find a viable path to life as an adult man; (b) experiencing a sense of failure according to own standards; (c) emotional self-restriction in relationships; and (d) strong feelings of loneliness and rejection of self. Improved understanding of suicides outside the mental illness paradigm may have important implications for preventive strategies.

Suicide and Perfectionism: A Psychological Autopsy Study of Non-Clinical Suicides

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Kiamanesh ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Fear Of Failure ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
History Of

This study explores suicide in relation to perfectionism among individuals who died by suicide with no history of treatment in mental health care or of suicide attempts. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study (PA-study). It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the dynamics/processes from perfectionism to suicide among 6 men aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Based on the informants' narratives, it seemed that perfectionism left these men less able to cope with their (self-perceived) inability to meet their high expectations. Four themes emerged from analysis: 1) striving for success; 2) fear of failure; 3) keeping up the facade; and 4) rigidity. The results may be important in the prevention of nonclinical suicides, a group that is particularly difficult to identify, especially if the deceased have been regarded as very successful in many areas.

scholarly journals Relationship between impulsivity and suicide among the rural elderly in China: a case-control psychological autopsy study

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11801
Author(s):  
Yunfang Zhou ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Cun-Xian Jia ◽  
Liang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship

Background The relationship between impulsivity and suicide is inconsistent in different populations. Hence, the relationship between impulsivity and suicide still needs to be studied among the elderly population. The present study intends to explore the relationship between impulsivity and suicide among the rural Chinese elderly. Methods A case-control psychological autopsy study was conducted from February 1, 2014 to December 18, 2015 among rural residents over the age of 60 who died by suicide. The sample consisted of 242 suicides as the case group and 242 living individuals as the control group. Data on demographic characteristics, impulsivity, previous history of suicide attempts, social support, negative life events, and suicidal behavior were collected. Results Our study found that impulsivity increased the risk of suicide. The case group showed a higher Barratt Impulsiveness Scale score compared with the control group (p < 0.001), which indicates that impulsivity was higher among the elderly suicides. In addition, regression analyses show that impulsivity (odds ratio: 1.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.06) is an independent risk factor of suicide, after controlling for the effects of marital status, education, family annual income, being left behind, social support, and negative life events. Finally, compared with elderly who do not have a history of attempted suicide, elderly with a history of attempted suicide showed higher impulsivity (p = 0.001).

Suicide in Scottish Prisons

1987 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Backett
Keyword(s):  
Inpatient Treatment ◽  
Initial Phase ◽  
Population Studies ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
General Population Studies ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment ◽  
History Of

A consecutive series of prison suicides in Scotland between 1970 and 1982 was examined. The initial phase of imprisonment was found to be the most vulnerable stage of confinement, with almost two-thirds of the deaths having taken place within the first month. A disproportionately high number were found to be on remand. A history of some form of psychiatric involvement was common, and a third of the group had received previous psychiatric inpatient treatment. In contrast to results from general population studies, there was little evidence to link suicide with a history of depressive illness. A record of problems with either alcohol or drug dependence was found in almost half the cases. The importance of general measures designed to reduce stress and promote coping mechanisms is emphasised.

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