Citation

Shah A, Ganesvaran T. Int. J. Psychiatry Clin. Prac. 1999; 3(3): 199-204.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/13651509909022734

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Mental health professionals are poor at predicting suicides. A study of inpatient suicides over 21 years allowed an opportunity to develop a potentially useful clinical classification of the psychopathology of suicidal intent. One hundred and three inpatient suicides in a large mental hospital were examined. Although case notes of 93 suicide patients were available for detailed examination, only 33 case notes had sufficient data for classification of suicidal intent. Possible categories for classifying suicidal intent were developed, and four were identified: ambivalent, concealed, mixed and continuous. Evidence for the face validity of these concepts was provided by the clinical case-histories. The classification was reviewed in the context of the existing literature, which provided further evidence in support of its validity. This classification, if replicated, would be clinically helpful and might assist further improvement in the management of psychiatric inpatients.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; article; depression; female; human; Inpatient suicides; male; mental patient; priority journal; psychologic assessment; Psychopathology; schizophrenia; suicidal behavior; Suicidal intent; suicide; suicide attempt