The teenage suicide rate in Zimbabwe did not change much during the 1970s, though the rate rose for female teenagers. Female teenagers used poison as a method of suicide more often than did adults, and self-immolation had increased in frequency among young women by the mid-1980s. (Author)

Using data from 2,304 community residents, found self-reports of suicide attempts were more common among persons with than without family history of suicide. Nearly one in four suicide attempters reported family history of suicide. Being female and unmarried, respondent mental disorder, parent mental disorder, and parent suicide attempt exerted…

Presidential address at 1990 annual meetings of the American Association of Suicidology provides overview of how suicide assessment could be improved in the next decade. Focuses on new assessment rationale and techniques to improve suicide assessment. Describes both suicide assessment techniques that have been used for years and newer techniques…

Examined whether tripling in teenage suicides since 1950s represents increase in suicides or in skill of medical examiners. Examined firearms and poisoning death from 1953-87. Concludes that increase in youth suicide is less dramatic than reported, and suicide increase indicated among youths and adults occurred from 1964-71 and has since…

Administered Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Self-Concept Test (BST), and Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) to 908 psychiatric outpatients. Found that none of DAS subscales discriminated ideators and nonideators or was significantly related to SSI total scores of suicide ideators after…

Tests nonadditive model of suggestion/imitation, predicting that suicide stories will have greatest effect on suicide in times of high suicidogenic conditions measured in terms of unemployment. Data on U.S. monthly suicide rate supported nonadditive model based on interaction effect between media stories and rate of unemployment; it did not prove…

Reviews previous theoretical approaches to understanding adolescent suicide (Durkheim's sociological theory of suicide, social learning theory, psychological theory, and family systems theory), and proposes utilization of human ecological theory. Examines factors associated with adolescent suicide at organism (individual), microsystem, mesosystem,…

Explored the impact of motives expressed in suicide note on reactions of the survivor of the suicide by presenting college students with a hypothetical suicide. Suicide note expressed either anger toward the survivor, self-blame, or desire to escape from psychological pain. Subjects felt it would be harder to express sympathy toward survivors of…

Advocates the case method as the primary object of teaching in suicidology. Presents five cases, each from a different vantage point, referral source, and context, and without revealing the outcome. Concludes that the application of empirically derived risk factors makes the assessment and prediction of future suicidal behavior more possible,…

Claims a review of the clinical suicidology literature suggests three key domains in assessment of suicide risk: those of Mental state, Affective state, and Psychosocial context (M.A.P.). Concludes evaluation of M.A.P. states offers a workable strategy for efficient and systematic assessment of suicide risk. (ABL)

Reviews studies on suicidal behavior in depressed patients, including study showing that depressed patients who had attempted suicide had significantly reduced CSF concentrations of dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) and significantly lower urinary outputs of HVA than patients who had not attempted suicide. Considers role of diminished…

Assessed relationship between heavy metal music and suicide with data on heavy metal magazine subscriptions and youth suicide in 50 states. Found that, controlling for other predictors of suicide, greater strength of metal subculture, higher youth suicide rate, suggests that music perhaps nurtures suicidal tendencies already present in subculture.…

Asked college students to sort and evaluate eight methods for suicide using modified Rep Grid technique. Identified clusters of methods viewed similarly by each respondent. Method was seen to have potential for clinicians who work with potentially suicidal clients in helping them prevent suicide in their clients and for research into determinants…

Used National Center for Health Statistics Compressed Mortality data to perform age-specific analysis of linear trends in suicide. Found males aged 65+ years were most likely to use firearms. In 1988, nearly 80% of suicides by older males were committed with firearms. Firearm-related suicide rates were much lower for blacks than whites 65 and…

Discusses case of Dr. Margaret Bean-Bayog, Boston psychiatrist who resigned her license to practice medicine after being sued by former patient's family following patient's suicide. Contends that Dr. Bean-Bayog was "brutalized without justification." Presents facts of the case and discusses implications for therapists attempting to treat seriously…