Citation

Pezenhoffer I, Gerevich J. Psychiatr. Hung. 2015; 30(2): 201-209.

Affiliation

Addiktologiai Kutato Intezet, Budapest, Hungary, E-mail: gerevic@t-online.hu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Magyar Pszichiatriai Tarsasag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

26202623

Abstract

Although in recent decades the literature has paid special attention to Vincent van Gogh's life, work and illness, there has still not been an examination of the connections between his trait aggression and his suicide. The present study traces, in the light of this trait aggression, the predictive factors that can be observed on the path leading to the artist's suicide. Biographical documents, case history data, as well as letters and the findings of earlier research have been used in the course of the analysis. Among the distal suicide risk factors we find a positive family anamnesis, childhood traumas (emotional deprivation, identity problems associated with the name Vincent), a vagrant, homeless way of life, failures in relationships with women, and psychotic episodes appearing in rushes. The proximal factors include the tragic friendship with Gauguin (frustrated love), his brother Theo's marriage (experienced as a loss), and a tendency to self-destruction. Both factor groups on the one hand determined the course of development of the trait aggression and on the other can also be regarded as a manifestation of that trait aggression. It can be said that the trait aggression played an important role in Van Gogh's suicide.

Language: hu