Ego Structure and Object Differentiation in Suicidal Patients (IN: Primitive Mental States and the Rorschach, ed. by H D Lerner & P M Lerner)

This article is based on an “ego vulnerabilities” approach to suicide assessment. The authors believe that certain patterns of ego functions predispose a person, who is facing major life frustrations, to suicidal behavior. Assessing suicidality can therefore be aided by analyzing ego structures & dynamic motivations, & looking at external events which may be perceived as crushing. The authors provide comprehensive guidelines to determine if a patient has a vulnerable ego structure. (VM)