Year: 1989 Source: South African Journal of Psychology, v.19, no.3, (1989), p.172-184 SIEC No: 20011452

This article describes a controlled study of the family structure of a South African Indian parasuicide population. 20 subjects from a local general hospital were compared with 20 matched medical patients without a history of parasuicide. Subjects from both groups were retested 6-8 weeks after the initial assessment. Analyses of variance indicated significant differences between the 2 groups on indicators of family interactional pathology. This seems to be compounded by family stresses emanating from socio-cultural transition. The results of the study support the view family therapy should be implemented in the treatment of parasuicide. (106 refs.)