Suicidal Behavior and Cognitive Flexibility: Design and Verbal Fluency After Attempted Suicide

Aspects of problem solving were measured in 9 male psychiatric patients, hospitalized after attempted suicide. Controls were patients with chronic idiopathic pain & healthy volunteers. Suicidal patients had significantly lower scores on general intellectual tests & in verbal & design fluency. No differences in problem solving & flexibility were found. Results are interpreted as indicating a decreased ability of suicidal patients to generate new ideas, when no alternatives areprovided. (22 refs.)