title: Diagnoses, psychosocial stressors and adaptive functioning in attempted suicide.
abstract: A systematic sample of 78 suicide attempters (37 men and 41 women), of whom 83% were hospitalized, were interviewed according to SCID I and II and Axes III-V according to DSM-III-R. Mood disorders were most common (56%). Forty-four suicide attempters (56%) suffered from comorbid diagnoses on Axis I-II. Borderline personality disorder was more common among women then men (56% vs. 24%, respectively, p = 0.01). Axis III disorders were confirmed for 45%. Sixty-two percent of the suicide attempters had severe psychosocial stressors (Axis IV). When comparing subjects with only Axis I disorders to those with Axis I and II disorders, no difference with respect to psychosocial stressor grade was observed. Moreover, those with only Axis I disorders were not impaired in their adaptive functioning (Axis V) even if severe psychosocial stressors were present. In contrast, an association (p = 0.02) was found between high stress and low functioning in patients with both Axis I and Axis II disorders. The data suggest that in clinical practice, beside evaluation of Axis I and Axis II disorders, also stressors and global functioning should be included in the assessment of suicide risk after attempted suicide.
authors.affiliation: Swedish National and Stockholm County Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Runeson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wasserman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*