Suicide and Self-Destruction in Automobile Accidents: A Psychoanalytic Study

Hypotheses about suicide & self-destruction in serious auto accidents were developed & tested against 3 groups of male hospital patients. 1 group was hospitalized for injuries suffered in 1-car accidents, the 2nd for suicide attempts, & the 3rd for appendectomies. Heavy daily drinking was found in 3/4 of the accident group compared to 1/4 of the suicide & appendectomy samples. It was concluded that suicidal & self-destructive factors don’t play as significant a role in accidents as drinking.