Citation

Chapman AL, Dixon-Gordon KL. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2007; 37(5): 543-552.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.2007.37.5.543

PMID

17967121

Abstract

Emotional experiences immediately prior to (emotional antecedents) and following (emotional consequences) deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts in female inmates (N = 63) were examined. Anger was the antecedent emotion reported by the largest proportion of individuals who had engaged in deliberate self-harm (45.16%), suicide attempts (40.9%), and ambivalent suicide attempts (30%). Relief and other positive emotional shifts were more common in deliberate self-harm (41.94%) (involving no intent to die) than in suicide attempts or ambivalent suicide attempts, particularly for persons with borderline personality disorder. These findings underscore the utility of discriminating between deliberate self-harm and suicidal behavior and highlight the potential role of anger in triggering such behaviors.

Language: en