Mental pain and its communication in medically serious suicide attempts: An “impossible situation”

Abstract Background The study of near-fatal suicide attempters may provide insight into the minds of suicidal subjects. Our aim is to test the hypothesis that mental pain is a general risk factor for suicidal behavior and communication difficulties are a particular risk factor for medically serious suicidal behavior. Methods Thirty five subjects who made medically serious suicide attempts were compared with 67 medically not serious suicide attempters and 71 healthy controls. All were interviewed with the SCID-I and completed questionnaires covering mental pain, communication difficulties and seriousness of suicide attempt. Result Variables from the mental pain domain (e.g. depression) predicted the presence of suicidal behavior, and variables from the communication difficulties domain (e.g., self-disclosure) predicted the lethality and seriousness of the suicide attempts. Limitations Relatively small number of patients with medically serious suicide attempt and the relatively large number of questionnaires which may to some extent have diminished informant reliability. Conclusions Problems with sharing of feelings with others are an important risk factor for near-lethal suicide, over and above the contribution of psychiatric illness and mental pain, including depression and hopelessness.