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Abstract
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BACKGROUND Suicide means self murder. It is observed in a number of psychiatric conditions. Psychodynamics and socio economic factors play a role in suicide. This study is done to assess the influence of mental illness, personality traits and stress factors and also the socio economic factors like education, occupation, family income on suicide. AIMS OF THE STUDY To study the socio demographic, economic data and psychological factors associated with suicide patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS For this study 50 patients who were brought to ASRAM Medical College Hospital with attempted suicide between 2008 June to 2009 September were assessed after their physical condition had improved. TOOLS: Kuppuswamy's socio economic status scale; Thematic appreciation test; Rorscharch's ink blot test; Beck's hopelessness scale; Presumptive stressful life events scale of Gurneet Singh.
RESULTS: Unmarried males & married females showed statistically significant high risk of suicide People of Lower socioeconomic status attempted suicide more than middle and upper income groups. Major psychological themes associated with suicide are despair & hopelessness, anger & hostility towards authority figures or parents, loss of loved object, narcissistic injury, identification with dead. Most patients showed insecurity, impulsivity & demand of immediate gratification. Early parental loss occurred in 5 patients. Psychosocial stressors played a role in majority of cases. Psychiatric disorders: 20% cases of depression, 10% cases of schizophrenia & psychotic disorders, 10% cases of personality disorders, 20% cases of alcoholism are associated with suicide.
CONCLUSION More vulnerability to suicide is seen in young and productive age group and people who are more prone to psychological stressors like low SE status lower educational level, unemployment, rural background. Hopelessness, desperation & anger are the most predominant psychological themes- Alcohol decreases the threshold for impulsivity thus increasing the chance of suicide. Thus family members should be counselled about the risk of suicide in the patient.
Language: en |