Considered influence of social contexts in examining the impact of publicized suicide stories on suicide by collecting data on widely publicized suicide stories during the World War I decade. Results showed that publicized suicide stories during war time had no impact on suicide while peacetime suicide stories were associated with an increase in…

Notes that the many forms of suicidal phenomena (contemplated, attempted, and completed suicide) present significant problems to researchers and practitioners. Reviews theoretical and empirical efforts to define types of suicidal individuals and attempts to integrate them by means of higher-order categories of variables: (1) descriptive; (2)…

Followed patients (N=499) hospitalized for suicide attempts (attempters) between 1970 and 1975 until 1982. Found under six percent eventually committed suicide. Found the interrupted attempters were approximately three times more likely to commit suicide than were the uninterrupted attempters. (Author/ABL)

Classified primitive societies as high, moderate, or low on independent measures of social integration and social regulation to test Durkheim's theory of suicide. Estimated frequency of suicide did not differ between those societies predicted to have high, moderate, and low suicide rates. Durkheim's theory was not confirmed. (Author/NB)

Evidence does not support traditional theories of gender and suicidal behavior that see women attempting suicide and men completing suicide or that see women being suicidal for love whereas men are suicidal for pride and performance. As culturally shared assumptions, however, traditional theories may influence suicidal choices of women and men and…

Examined relationships between means-ends problem solving and suicidality among adult male prisoners (n=93). Found that among prisoners with history of parasuicide, current suicidality did not affect problem-solving performance. Among nonsuicidal inmates, parasuicide history had no effect on problem-solving or affect-suicidality measures.…

Explored relationship between divorce and suicide in Japan. Time series analysis was unable to substantiate divorce-suicide pattern for Japan. Although research did not offer support for relationship between divorce and suicide which Durkheim predicted, it did corroborate Durkheim's general theory of family integration. (Author/NB)

Presents formulation of association between alcohol consumption and suicidal behavior derived from recent advances in area of social cognition. Suggests that social cognitive mechanism of alcohol-induced myopia may serve important role in developing comprehensive conceptualization of alcohol-suicide relationship. Discusses implications for…

Outlines model for crisis intervention with highly lethal suicidal people. Explores idea that crisis is a perception, including issues of lethality and perturbation, object relations, responsibility, weapon availability, and active versus passive response. Highlights specific problems with transference and countertransference. Suggests that there…

Discusses components of effective risk management approach that balances need for high-quality care by reasonable and prudent practitioners with requirements of court-determined and statutory standards. Reviews legal theories and clinical literature, detailing essential guidelines for sound assessment, intervention, and postvention procedures.…

Responds to previous article by Males on teenage suicides and changing cause-of-death certification from 1953 through 1987. After closely examining Males' arguments, author comes to different conclusions concerning increase in teenage suicides during that time period. Concludes that increase in youth suicide is real and that increase is twice that…

Presents case study of David, six-year-old male who was experiencing a myriad of personal and family problems and who was expressing a desire to die. Comments on the case are provided by two practitioners in the field. (NB)

Consecutive suicides (n=58) among adolescents and young adults, studied by psychological autopsy, were classified according to presence of previous psychiatric care. Fifteen of 16 subjects without previous care were males, 6 were diagnosed as having adjustment disorder related to recent event. Unemployment was less common, suicidal processes were…

Reviews some of dangers inherent in oversimplifying nature of suicide for public education purposes, then outlines model of elderly suicide derived from community-based psychological autopsy study. Hypothesizes that elderly persons who die by suicide have lifelong character fault that remains invisible until aging life-changes force issue into the…

Examined suicides in Bridgewater (Massachusetts) State Hospital for persons formerly labeled "criminally insane." Found variation in suicide rate by historical period. Post-1968 rate of 232 per 100,000 was comparable to data reported in studies of psychiatric suicides, suggesting that forensic hospital populations have suicide rates…