Overdoses: Explanations and Attitudes in Self-Poisoners and Significant Others

Abstract

Marked differences were found between the reasons chosen to explain overdoses by the closest relatives or friends (the 'significant others') of 34 self-poisoners and those reasons chosen by the self-poisoners themselves. Whilst 41% of the latter claimed suicidal intent, in only one case was the significant other in agreement. The significant others were more likely to attribute manipulative reasons, commonly viewing the overdoses as directed at themselves, but the two groups agreed that the overdoses were often a means of alleviating distress. As well as evoking sympathy, the overdoses often caused the significant others to feel considerable guilt and anger. Discrepancies in the way self-poisoners and significant others interpret overdoses, and the strong feelings that overdoses evoke in the latter, should be considered during assessment and treatment of overdose patients.

Repetition of self‐harm and suicide following self‐harm in children and adolescents: findings from the Multicentre Study of Self‐harm in England

“…This definition, which differs from the binary classification of non‐suicidal self‐injury and attempted suicide now popular in the USA (Nock, Joiner, Gordon, Lloyd‐Richardson, & Prinstein, 2006), is used by most researchers in Europe (Madge et al., 2008; Schmidtke et al., 1996) and official bodies (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2004) is based on the fact that motivation for self‐harm is often complex (Hawton, Cole, O’Grady, & Osborn, 1982). Also perceived motivation for self‐harm may vary between those who self‐harm and other people (Hawton et al., 1982; James & Hawton, 1985) and suicidal intent is on a continuum (not an all‐or‐nothing phenomenon).…”

Public perceptions of self-harm—A test of an attribution model of public discrimination.

“…However, results of the current study suggest that stated motivation does not affect cognitive, emotional, or behavioral responding. The broader literature indicates an apparent incongruity between stated and perceived motivations, with a bias toward ascribing interpersonal motivations to self-harmful acts of others, assuming that the behavior is undertaken primarily for communicative means (Ramon, 1980;Schnyder, Valach, Bichsel, & Michel, 1999;James & Hawton, 1985;Scoliers et al, 2009). Therefore, to give a more complete understanding, it would be important for future research to consider perceived motivation.…”

Reliability and Validation of the Hebrew Version of the Reasons for Attempting Suicide Questionnaire (RASQ‐H) and its Importance for Mental Pain

“…Further, the current study suggests that these external foci may even be an indicator of lowered levels of suicidality. Such an observation is a potentially important clinical finding that bears further investigation because of previous studies demonstrating that clinicians and families tend to attribute suicide attempts to manipulative motives (Hawton, Cole, O'Grady, & Osborn, ; James & Hawton, ).…”