Citation

Mello MF. Cad. Saude Publica 2000; 16(1): 163-170.

Vernacular Title

O suicidio e suas relacoes com a psicopatologia: analise qualitativa de seis

Affiliation

Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo, Rua Urussuí, 71 conj. 133, Itaim Bibi, São Paulo, SP 04542-050, Brasil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Escola Nacional De Saude Publica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10738161

Abstract

We studied the meaning given to the terms "death" and "suicide" among psychiatric inpatients. Forty-four patients who had been admitted in a psychiatric inpatient unit following a suicide attempt underwent a qualitative interview, using a "general guide interview" approach. The results were analyzed systematically to investigate the relationship between attempted suicide and mental disorder. In 6 cases there was no correlation between the attempted suicide and psychopathological symptoms. One of these patients had a psychiatric diagnosis, but this did not seem to be related to the suicide attempt. All of them made a rational a deliberate suicidal act. Conclusion: even in a psychiatric inpatient setting, suicide attempts are not always a behavioural expression of underlying psychopathological disturbances - individual and social factors also play a decisive role.

Language: pt