Year: 1999 Source: Archives of Suicide Research, v.5, no.1, (1999), p.1-10 SIEC No: 20010810

This study deals with psychophysiological (electrodermal reactivity in a habituation experiment, habituation score) basis of suicidal behaviour. It shows habituation data of 30 suicides using violent methods compared to age- & gender-matched controls groups with different suicidal expressions, on a large database of a total sample of 504 depressed inpatients. The major findings of a significantly reduced electrodermal reactivity (habituation score) in suicidal action versus suicidal thinking confirms early results but in a comprehensive large sample. It also confirms the clinical hypothesis of a biological basis of suicidal action, especially in suicidal acts using violent methods. (16 refs.)