Chronic Suicide Attempters who Switch Methods and Those who do not

A file study of 53 psychiatric patients with histories of suicide attempts revealed that, of 25 repeated attempters, only 8 had switched methods. Subjects who switched methods did not differ from other subjects in age, gender, or marital status but were less often diagnosed as schizophrenic. Data support Clarke & Lester’s (1989) contention about preferred methods of suicide.