Characteristics of suicidal behavior in a Turkish sample.
BACKGROUND
Suicidal behavior is one of the most important problems in psychiatric clinics. Several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics may have different effects on suicidal behavior.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of a sample of 144 suicide attempters admitted to a Turkish emergency clinic for a suicide attempt.


METHODS
All subjects were interviewed by a consultant psychiatrist. For all individuals, data on DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses, sociodemographic data, Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Becks's Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS), and Beck's Suicidal Intention Scale (BSIS) were collected.


RESULTS
The majority of suicide attempters were females characterized by low educational status and low religious orientation. Drug overdose was the most common method of suicide attempt and conflict within the family was the most frequent psychological stress factor. Three-quarters of attempters (74.6%) met DSM-IV criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Of these, 28.5% met criteria for major depressive disorder. Suicide attempters with depression tended to be immigrant, urban dwellers with high scores on the suicide intent scale.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, the findings are useful in showing the risk factors related to suicidal behavior.
Ozdel
Osman
O
Department of Psychiatry, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. osmanlal@yahoo.com
Varma
Gulfizar
G
Atesci
Figen C
FC
Oguzhanoglu
Nalan K
NK
Karadag
Filiz
F
Amuk
Tarkan
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D009042:Motivation; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012008:Recurrence; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult