Citation

Pregelj P, Zupanc T, Tomori M, Balazic J, Apter A. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 71.

Affiliation

University Psychiatric Hospital, Studenec 48, 1260 Ljubljana, Slovenia. peter.pregelj@psih-klinika.si.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963975

Abstract

Research relates a wide range of psychosocial characteristics and stressors to suicide behavior. The aim of our study was to investigate main psychosocial characteristics in persons who committed suicide in the central region of the country during the last few years. Suicide cases were examined using the method of psychological autopsy. Beside sociodemographic data, information was also gathered about some psychosocial characteristics (depression, impulsivity, aggression), alcohol and substance abuse, mental health problems, history of psychiatric treatment, life events, suicidal ideation, previous suicidal behavior, and suicide in the family. Altogether, 66 suicide victims (17 women and 49 men) in Central Slovenia were included in the study. Data from two sample subgroups (suicide victims with or without family history of suicide) were compared. Among other findings it was found that suicide victims with family history of suicide have higher number of previous suicide attempts than victims with no family history of suicide. Frequency of mental disorders or severe deprivation in childhood was two times higher for the victims with positive family history. Victims with positive family history of suicide were reported to express aggression to others and performed corporal punishment more often. These data are in accordance with known observation that in certain families suicidal behaviour is more often observed and indicate that suicide victims with family history of suicide could have more stressors in childhood and could be more prone to impulsive and aggressive behaviour than victims without family history of suicide.

Language: en