Citation

Spittler JF. Nervenheilkd. 2015; 34(12): 1026-1031.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0038-1627653

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: People seeking support for assisted suicide from an organisation often also suffer from psychiatric disturbances. The question arises wether this impairs competence of judgement and justification for assistance. Material and methods: On the basis of 420 psychiatric reports symptoms and disturbances are analysed.

RESULTS: In 186 cases the main or a secondary diagnosis was a psychiatric one, ranging from schizophrenic residual syndrome, episodic or chronic depression to personality disorder. In these cases the competence of judgement had been considered pathologically or psychodynamically impaired but at the same time rational and realistic in 54,8% and as clearly rational in 37,6%.

CONCLUSION: Psychiatric symptoms have to be carefully differentiated in people seeking support for assisted suicide. In the majority of cases these do not result in a significant impairment of competence. © 2015 Schattauer.

Language: de

Keywords

human; Depression; decision making; Schizophrenia; assisted suicide; schizophrenia; Personality disorder; mental disease; personality disorder; Assisted suicide; competence; Article; chronic depression; Competence of judgment