title: Mental pain as a mediator of suicidal tendency: a path analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study used path-analysis to examine the assumption that the presence of mental pain in adults mediates the relationship between self-destruction, number of losses experienced in one's life, and suicidal tendency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty suicidal inpatients, 50 non-suicidal inpatients and 50 healthy volunteers were assessed for self-destruction, losses experienced, depression, suicidal tendency, and mental pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-destruction was found to have both a direct effect on suicidal tendency as well as one mediated by the presence of mental pain. Number of losses effected suicidal tendency only indirectly, mediated by the presence of mental pain. Overall, self-destruction was a more significant determinant of suicidal tendency than were the number of losses experienced during one's life. A competing model, with depression replacing mental pain as the mediator, was also found to fit the data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide evidence that the presence of mental pain is a mediator in the relationships between both self-destruction and number of losses experienced, and between suicidal tendencies. More studies are needed in order to further differentiate between mental pain and depression as mediators in suicidal tendency.
authors: Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors: Smadar
authors: S
authors: Nahaliel
authors: Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; Child and Adolescents Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors: Eliane
authors: E
authors: Sommerfeld
authors: Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors: Israel
authors: I
authors: Orbach
authors: Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors: Aron
authors: A
authors: Weller
authors: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Apter
authors: Child and Adolescents Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Psychiatry Department, Columbia University, NY, USA. Electronic address: zalsman@post.tau.ac.il.
authors: Gil
authors: G
authors: Zalsman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult