Covert and Overt Dependence in Suicidal Women and Their Male Partners

This study explores the covert mental representations & the interactional context of dependence in suicidal women & their male nonsuicidal partners. On the basis of theory, the authors hypothesized that suicidal women & and their partners would have similar covert dependent needs, but opposite styles of dealing with these needs. Contrary to prediction, most suicidal women did not directly experess excessive dependence. (86 refs.)