Citation

Himmelhoch JM. J. Clin. Psychiatry 1988; 49(Suppl): 46-52.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Physicians Postgraduate Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3047108

Abstract

There seems to exist an inherent barrier to the achievement of any extreme biological state, be it massive intravascular coagulation, intense euphoria, or the inalterable decision to kill oneself. Moreover, defenses against suicide may in themselves be pathological, producing other types of maladaption. Indeed, certain lethality indicators possess a threshold, below which they act as a barrier against suicide. Wrist-cutting, self-treatment with drugs and alcohol, and psychosis itself all can play a defensive role in the organism's struggle for survival.

Language: en