Relationship between self-disclosure and serious suicidal behavior.
The ability to predict which suicidal patient is at high risk for a serious attempt is an important clinical problem. On the basis of our clinical research, we hypothesized that self-disclosure may be an important personality variable differentiating suicide attempters and completers. We assessed 80 patients with depressive disorder, divided into four groups of 20 each: suicidal ideation only, nonserious suicide attempts, severe suicide attempts, and no suicidal behavior. Comparisons were also made with 20 healthy controls. All subjects completed Jourad's Self-Disclosure Questionnaire (JSDQ), as well as scales measuring depression/anxiety and hopelessness. The lack of willingness for self-disclosure significantly differentiated the serious attempters from the suicide ideators and mild attempters. The relationship of self-disclosure and more lethal suicide attempts did not appear to be mediated by depression, anxiety, or hopelessness. This preliminary study indicates that self-disclosure may be a promising field for assessment, therapy, and prevention in suicidal patients. Further studies are needed to investigate related variables, wider patients groups, and the use of different instruments.
Apter
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Petah Tiqwa, Israel.
Horesh
N
N
Gothelf
D
D
Graffi
H
H
Lepkifker
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention