Suicidal Behavior in Depressive Illness: A Study of Aetiological Factors in Suicide

Tested the hypothesis that parental deprivation, social isolation & social degeneration are related to suicidal behavior. Patients hospitalized during the course of a year with depressive illness were subdivided into 2 groups: suicidal (n=60) & nonsuicidal (n=163). The groups were not differentiated by the incidence of social isolation or social degeneration. Parental deprivation during childhood was very significantly associated with suicidal behavior in depressive illness.