Citation

Pollack B. Psychiatr. Q. 1938; 12(2): 306-330.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1938, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF01566193

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

1.The problem of suicide has been studied among 51 patients in a State hospital.2.In all cases it would appear as if the outstanding precipitating cause lies in the individual rather than in the environment. It is not the usual situation, but sudden change, that is the commonest precipitating factor.3.The mechanisms of suicides occurring in so-called normal individuals, would appear to be, to a general degree, similar to those occurring in the majority of psychotics. This is much more marked for the manic-depressive and involutional melancholia groups.4.Among the successful cases of suicides studied there was a preponderance of males over females, of Roman Catholics over other religions and a marked history of insanity in the immediate family group with also a family history of suicides more marked in the successful suicides group.5.Most of the unsuccessful attempts at suicide occurred among women. In the majority of cases these attempts were not repeated.6.There are no significant data among the psychotics with reference to their civil state although in this study there was a slightly greater number of cases among the married groups.7.The largest number of suicides and attempted suicides occurred among cases of dementia præcox (approximately 50 per cent) with manic-depressive and involutional melancholia following in order of decreasing frequency.

Language: en

Keywords

Attempted Suicide; Dementia; Family History; Normal Individual; Sudden Change