Citation

Levi-Belz Y, Gvion Y, Grisaru S, Apter A. Arch. Suicide Res. 2018; 22(3): 380-393.

Affiliation

Feinberg Child Study Center , Schneider's Children's Medical Center of Israel , Petach Tikvah , Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2017.1355288

PMID

28786756

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The unbearable mental pain experience is recognized as a key antecedent of suicidal behavior. We aimed to examine the precise nature of the mental pain among medically serious suicide attempters (MSSAs), a population closely resembling those who died by suicide.

METHODS: We evaluated various factors of mental pain from the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale, as well as medical lethality and suicide intent.

RESULTS: MSSAs were higher than non-MSSAs and psychiatric controls for Irreversibility of pain. Moreover, Emptiness predicted medical lethality, while Cognitive Confusion negatively predicted suicide intent level, controlling for hopelessness and depression.

CONCLUSION: high sense of Irreversibility of pain as well as high Emptiness and low Cognitive Confusion are important risk factors for more severe suicidal behavior. Implications for identification of at-risk groups for suicide as well as for suicide prevention and treatment of suicidal individuals are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

MSSA; irreversibility; medical lethality; mental pain; serious suicide attempts; suicide intent