title: From a cracking façade to a total escape: maladaptive perfectionism and suicide.
abstract: This study explored the final stages of the suicide process among six men characterized as maladaptive perfectionists. These men, aged 22 to 58, had no history of suicide attempts or mental health treatment. In-depth interviews with 5 to 9 informants for each person were analyzed by using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the analysis: (a) a cracking façade; (b) a total loss of coping ability; and (c) a total escape. Suicide was related to a shameful defeat that was not reversible, and a loss of the ability to handle such feelings of defeat and shame.
authors.affiliation: a Norwegian Institute of Public Health , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kiamanesh
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dieserud
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haavind
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012938:Social Perception; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention