Resource Tag: PRESUICIDAL SYNDROME

The concept of suicidality must be explained to include larger social systems than the individual, states the author, because of the influence these systems have on the actions of the individual. Bennett states that”…suicidality can be thought of as a trance state induced by that person’s role in family & society.” The hypothesis of this […]

Child suicide has become a critical issue for both the public & the therapeutic community. The author differentiates between children under 8 or 9 & those approaching adolescence, stating younger children are developed mentally to the stage of magical thinking & believe death is reversible. Parents & caregivers must therefore provide a safe environment for […]

It is impossible to draw conclusions about suicide from statistics alone, since suicide is a personal act and statistics are impersonal. An ad hoc study of 140 cases of attempted suicide indicates the psychological nature of suicidal acts. The presuicidal episode is considered primarily as an intrapsychic event, with loss, depression, etc. serving as triggers […]

One of the major causes of death in this country is suicide. A large proportion of those taking their lives are under the care of a physician or have recently consulted one because of some somatic, but indefinite complaint. Thus, the alert physician may prevent many a suicide if he grasps the clinical picture of […]

Considers attempted suicide along psychological, psychiatric & epidimiological lines. Classified 221 cases according to 1 of 3 groups-serious, ambivalent & gesture-based on components of the presuicidal state: aim, motivation, communication, etc. Epidemiological characteristics of the 3 groups were considered. Actuarial profiles of the MMPI were used to assess the type of suicide attempt & risk. […]

The author considers suicide as a clinical manifestation of acting out & cites, through a series of case examples that have come to his attention at the Suicide Prevention Center in Los Angeles, the kinds of unconscious problems & behavioral translations that issue in attempts at suicide, whether successful or not.

Theoretical perspective on self-destructive behaviors using the three concepts of commitment, communication and crisis and three empirical studies of suicidal careers. (KB)

Supports the idea of suicidal behavior as an independent variable, which may explain or predict other aspects of one’s social, psychological & cultural condition. Suggests survival impulse is behind the ambiguity in a self-destructive act. Discusses connections between these behaviors, ranging from ideation to completed suicide; problems of deciding what behaviors to label as suicidal; […]

1727 Swedish subjects under 21 who attempted suicide between 1955 & 1959 were studied. The group that had undergone a personality or behaviour change were analyzed. The most common changes that occured were depressive & neurotic symptoms. Character symptoms were more unusual. It was not possible to crystallize a specific presucidal syndrome, which would make […]

In 1949 the author examined 745 cases of attempted suicide, with the special target of finding out their psychic state before & especially just prior to their suicidal act. The author felt justified in speaking of a presuicidal syndrome, consisting of constriction, inhibited aggression turned against the victim’s self & suicide fantasies. (RM)

Overlapping, or rather orderly alternation, of the depressive and suicidal states, each apparently being rooted in a distinct neurophysiological substrate, is discussed around the pivotal phenomenon of agoraphobia (or “heteropseudophobia). The latter seems to herald usually a clinical depression in females, whereas in males it might well be triggering suicidal impulses.

Two groups of suicide attempters have been identified by the author-“discarded women” & “adolescent crises”. These groups represent over 25% of the L.A. Suicide Prevention Center patient population but because of their youth, the salience of their suicidal behavior & also the dramatic manner in which they cry for help, these groups often receive considrable […]

The MMPI was given to 5 suicidal subjects for 1 month intervals for a year. Changes in degree of suicidal syndrome were difficult to detect in the profiles, & did not significantly affect interpersonal profile differences. It was suggested that different clinical syndromes might correspond to different suicidal syndromes, & that suicidal MMPS profile syndromes […]

Authors identify specific techniques to be used in crisis intervention with adolescents. Several case examples are presented, counselors must remember to involve the family in information gathering, look for patterns of crises, be aware of developmental issues, check quality of parents marriage & use a family-oriented approach. Authors contend brief, confrontational approaches are best.

Also reprinted as “The Third Wish,” in What We Know About Suicidal Behavior and How to Treat It, ed. by S Lesse (Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson Inc., 1988) p.77-84