Suicidal Behaviors and Personality Structure

Abstract

In this paper we suggest the potential clinical usefulness of two projective tests (Rorschach and Object Relation Technique) and of a clinical interview focused on the pathway to suicide, life events, and major life difficulties to better define subtypes of patients attempting suicide. Thirty-three hospitalized subjects who had attempted suicide in the previous 6 months were examined using an in-depth assessment of the pathway to suicide. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare, within a clinical sample of suicidal attempters, the psychopathological, personality, and psychosocial characteristics of subjects with mood disorders alone, personality disorders and dysfunctional personality alone, and mood disorders with personality disorders and/or dysfunctional personality; and (2) to analyze the relationship between the method chosen and the clinical characteristics of the subgroups.

Socio‐Cultural Features and Sex Profile of the Individuals with Serious Suicide Attempts in Southeastern Turkey: A One‐Year Survey

“…Although depression was the most common psychopathologic condition in our study as in the other studies (Gould et al, 2001; Ialongo et al, 2002), we were not able to find any comorbid with alcohol and substance addiction or abuse, probably a result of Islamic belief prohibiting the use of alcohol (Lester, 2006). In one fifth of our subjects, Axis II psychopathology (i.e., personality disorders) was present in parallel to previously reported rates (9%–30%) (Grava et al, 2006; Vijayakumar, 2005), with the most common personality disorder—was borderline personality disorder—just as it is in the literature. We found no difference between genders in terms of presence of any comorbid psychopathology, suggesting that comorbid psychopathologies are generally strong determinants of suicidal behavior.…”

“…The difference between with and without repeated suicide attempt/ideation groups in respect to Axis I pathologies was found to be insignificant, but the difference of Axis II was of significance. This may reflect the importance of Axis II pathologies in repeated suicidal attempts; for example, the personality disorders have been related to the suicidal attempts (Grava et al, 2006)…”

“…In a psychological autopsy study performed in the southeastern part of Turkey, the frequency of psychopathological conditions was reported to be 69% (Altindaǧ et al, 2005). Studies performed over the past 30 years emphasize the contribution of Cluster B personality disorders (Grava, Ceroni, Ruci, & Scudellari, 2006), particularly of borderline personality disorder, in suicidal behavior (Antikainen, Hintikka, Lehtonen, Koponen, & Arstila, 1995; Mehlum, Friis, Vaglum, & Karterund, 1994).…”

Gender differences in suicide methods

“…What remains relatively unknown, however, is whether these conditions are correlated with method of suicide, although the one study to date that has examined this question found no relationship [31]. Because depressive disorders are twice as high among suicidal women as men [32], studies of suicide methods should account for the influence of these conditions.…”

Metanálise de Relações Interpessoais no Método de Rorschach em Países Ocidentais

“…Apenas para se ter um panorama de como o Método de Rorschach tem sido pesquisado nos últimos anos, podemos citar investigação de: pessoas com problemas de alcoolismo e uso de drogas (Schiltz, 2008), comportamento suicida (Grava, Ceroni, Rucci & Scudellari, 2006), retardo mental (Di Nuovo, Buono, Colucci & Pellicciotta, 2004), Transtorno de Pânico (Villemor-Amaral, Franco & Farah, 2008), insônia (Carvalho et al, 2003), Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico (Santoantonio, Yazigi & Sato, 2004), portadores de HIV (Fioroni & Figueiredo, 2003). E, ainda, com motoristas infratores que tiveram suspenso o direito de dirigir (Frasson & Souza, 2002), bem como com estudantes de medicina (Rossetto, Skawinski, Coelho, Rossetto Júnior & Bolla, 2000 2 Entende-se aqui como "população não-paciente" pessoas sem histórico de desajuste psicológico ou transtorno psiquiátrico e que estejam em atividade laboral e/ou estudantil, incluindo pessoas em atividades domésticas.…”