The Prediction of Suicide: Dilemmas For Training

A search for state factors preceeding suicides compared patients committing suicide during, or within 30 days of, hospitalization with age/sex matched controls. There were no significant differences in history of depression, alcoholism, or early separation experiences, or in family history of depression, suicide or alcoholism. Patients who committed suicide had more pure affective disorder, more hopelessness, & more suicidal ideation, as well as a history of more suicide attempts. (RM)