Year: 1998 Source: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, v.33, no.3, (March 1998), p.104-110 SIEC No: 20100985

Attitudes towards suicide among medical students in Madras & Vienna were compared. Results showed a very restrictive attitude in Madras, rejecting the right to die by suicide, nearly always judging suicide as a cowardly act, & rejecting the idea of assisted suicide. A more permissive attitude was found in the Vienna sample. The Indian pattern is interpreted as coming close to a medical or disease model with stronger emphasis on mental illness, impulsiveness, & emotional aspects. The Vienna pattern reflects a theoretical or rational model, concentrating on cognitive factors. Possible relations to the risk for actual suicidal behaviour are discussed using respective answers concerning previous suicide ideation & attempts. (25 refs.) JA