[Suicide and its psychopathological relations: a qualitative analysis of 6 cases of rational suicide].
We studied the meaning given to the terms "death" and "suicide" among psychiatric inpatients. Forty-four patients who had been admitted in a psychiatric inpatient unit following a suicide attempt underwent a qualitative interview, using a "general guide interview" approach. The results were analyzed systematically to investigate the relationship between attempted suicide and mental disorder. In 6 cases there was no correlation between the attempted suicide and psychopathological symptoms. One of these patients had a psychiatric diagnosis, but this did not seem to be related to the suicide attempt. All of them made a rational a deliberate suicidal act.


CONCLUSIONS
even in a psychiatric inpatient setting, suicide attempts are not always a behavioural expression of underlying psychopathological disturbances - individual and social factors also play a decisive role.
Mello
M F
MF
Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo, Rua Urussuí, 71 conj. 133, Itaim Bibi, São Paulo, SP 04542-050, Brasil.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011599:Psychopathology; D011908:Rationalization; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*