Citation

Mitterauer B. Psychiatr. Prax. 1986; 13(6): 231-235.

Vernacular Title

Zur Rolle genetischer Faktoren beim Selbstmord. Diskutiert anhand von vier

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3809316

Abstract

The question of what role genetic factors have in the transmission of suicidal behaviour, in particular suicide itself, is discussed on the basis of four studies of an epidemiologically clearly defined region (the Bundesland Salzburg). The high percentage of suicide positive family histories as compared to the literature are due to exceptionally good sources of information. It could be shown that in suicide cases which were also suffering from endogenous depression, both endogenous psychoses and suicides appeared to a greater extent in their families. In contrast to current assumptions, however, the suicide disposition is not just found in those with endogenous psychoses, but shows a separate genetic determination. The author concludes, without wanting to generalize prematurely, that the genetic factor in suicide research and in the evaluation of suicidality equally be respected as are psychodynamic and sociodynamic factors.

Language: de