Maladaptive Perfectionism

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Kiamanesh ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
Maladaptive Perfectionism ◽  
History Of ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs

This study aimed to explore how the life history of suicide victims with no history of treatment in mental health care or of attempted suicide seemed to presdispose them to maladaptive perfectionism. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study. It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the vulnerability to suicide related to perfectionism, based on the life history of six male suicide victims aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Three main themes emerged: (a) exposure to high expectations combined with little recognition and warmth; (b) reduced ability to cope with failures and weaknesses; and (c) fear of emotional rejection. Together these themes illustrate that feelings of shame, mainly resulting from an unfulfilled need for attachment, a desire for love and recognition may relate to maladaptive perfectionism, which influences the suicidal process. The results may have important implications for suicide prevention programs.

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 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.

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 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.

Completed Versus Attempted Suicide in Psychiatric Patients: a Psychological Autopsy Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCO INNAMORATI ◽  
MAURIZIO POMPILI ◽  
VITTORIA MASOTTI ◽  
FEDERICO PEARSONÉI ◽  
DAVID LESTER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study

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.

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.

Men in despair: A qualitative psychological autopsy study of suicide in Northern Uganda

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Kizza ◽  
Birthe Loa Knizek ◽  
Eugene Kinyanda ◽  
Heidi Hjelmeland
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Northern Uganda ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
The Many

The psychosocial circumstances surrounding men’s suicide in postconflict Central Northern Uganda were investigated using qualitative psychological autopsy interviews. Records of 17 men who died by suicide were identified through police and local leaders in Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps of Amuru and Gulu Districts. Two to five significant others were interviewed around each case. Data were analyzed by interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Lost dignity and social value, lack of hope for the family’s future, overwhelming family responsibility, and mental illness were circumstances found to have preceded the suicides. The protracted war in the Northern region of Uganda left men in rural communities feeling disempowered and disenfranchised. This may have contributed to suicidal behavior in some of them. Suicide prevention in this area needs to be multidisciplinary with an emphasis on helping both men and women understand and deal with the many social changes that have evolved over time and affected their traditional roles and responsibilities.

scholarly journals Life History of Women with Fibromyalgia: Beyond the Illness

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Gonzalez ◽  
Telmo Baptista ◽  
Jaime Branco
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Stressful Life Event ◽  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Pain Syndrome ◽  
Positive Side ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
History Of

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome, which mostly affects middle age women and whose etiological factors remain unclear. Psychosocial aspects may have a relevant role as predisposing, triggering, and/or perpetuating factors for this syndrome, raising the interest about life history of patients with fibromyalgia. In this study, we interviewed 10 women with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, who had identified a critical or very stressful life event before the onset of the syndrome. The interview about the life history comprises the whole life, before and after the onset of the syndrome, and the narratives were analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Nine themes emerged: struggle, focus on adversities, positive overlaps the negative, scars of unhappy childhood, help others, perfectionism and desire to achieve, unsatisfactory present, perception of injustice, and keep feelings inside. A difficult life history is prevalent in these women and the themes identified are discussed in their relation with other qualitative studies and their possible role as predisposing and perpetuating factors for fibromyalgia. The ability to value the positive side of things, despite the adversities these women emphasized, is highlighted as an aspect to explore in psychological intervention, to enable a better management of this syndrome.

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