Attempted Suicide in the Armed Forces: A Retrospective Study of Norwegian Conscripts

A group of 112 male suicide-attempting conscripts was studied retrospectively. Suicide attempters more often had troublesome backgrounds, had experienced psychiatric problems & abuse, & had previously more often attempted suicide. Diagnostically, adjustment disorders, alcohol & drug abuse, & personality disorders predominated, whereas major affective disorders & psychotic disorders were rare. Methods of self-destruction employed were mostly drug ingestion & laceration. (22 refs.)