Suicide Among the Gifted (IN: The Savage God: A Study of Suicide, ed. by A Alvarez)

The author reports on a study in which “blind analysis” was conducted of 30 cases (5 suicides, 10 natural deaths, & 15 living persons). The analysis was conducted in terms of perturbation & lethality. The results indicated that suicide is a discernible part of a life-style, & the suicide of a 55-year-old could be predicted by the time that individual was 30. Various psychodynamic hypotheses are offered to account for these findings. An outline for a psychological autopsy is included.