Medical Contributions to Suicide

A group of 35 psychiatric patients admitted to an inpatient unit after a suicidal attempt were studied. At the time of the attempt 24 were under medical care, & 19 used drugs prescribed by their doctors. It was found that the hostile, demanding, depressed patient of low & devalued social status tended to be rejected by the doctor, who would terminate treatment prematurely & thus increase the risk of suicide.