[Attempted suicide versus suicidal intention: a study of differential characteristics].
BACKGROUND
Suicidal behaviours are internationally considered as a serious health problem and, consequently, considerable efforts are being made in the search for factors related with this behaviour.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if there are any differences between those who attempted suicide and those with suicidal ideation.


METHODS
During 1997-98, we interviewed a total of 134 patients hospitalised due to attempted suicide (n = 49), suicidal ideation (n = 38), and a control group made up of other psychiatric patients (n = 47) in the Psychiatric Unit of the Hospital de Jove (Gijón). All patients completed the "Protocol for Investigation of Suicidal Behaviour" which contains different sociodemographic and clinical variables, and the Scale for Suicide Ideation, Hopelessness Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Adult form.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in sociodemographic or clinical variables between the suicidal ideation and attempted suicide groups. Only the intensity of hopelessness as measured on the Beck scale (greater in the suicidal ideation group) and emotional instability in females (also greater in the suicidal ideation group) are the variables which differentiate those who present suicidal ideation and those who attempt suicide.
Fernández González
C
C
Servicios de Salud Mental del Principado de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo. cfernang@telecable.es
Sáiz Martínez
P A
PA
González Portilla
M P
MP
González Seijo
J C
JC
Bobes García
J
J
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013850:Thinking