Suicide Attempts as Social Goal-Directed Systems of Joint Careers, Projects, and Actions

This study examined to what extent persons who attempt suicide describe their attempt in terms of social, joint processes. Psychotherapists interviewed 40 hospital patients. The content of the interviews was analyzed for the level of system processes the patients referred to (action, project, & career). The most common processes to which the patients referred were relationship careers & projects & conflicts & argumentative actions. Analysis indicated a social process can be found at all levels of the patient’s organization of the suicide attempt, within a system of goal-directed action, project, & career. (33 refs.)