[Comparative studies on in-patients following suicide attempts]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide attempts present a significant public health challenge.
• Understanding the evolving motivations behind suicide attempts is crucial for prevention strategies.
• Social changes can impact individual mental health and suicidal behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in suicide attempts over several decades.
• To investigate the primary motivations and personal circumstances of individuals attempting suicide.
• To assess the influence of socio-economic changes, particularly after 1990, on suicidal behavior.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 311 patient records from a psychiatric clinic (1960-1995).
• Concurrent survey of completed suicide attempts in Plauen.
• Examination of patient demographics, personal situations, and stated reasons for attempts.

Main Results:

• Partnership conflicts were a consistent leading cause for suicide attempts across all examined periods.
• A noticeable decrease in full-time employment among attempters was observed by 1995, though unemployment was not frequently cited as a reason.
• An increase in suicide attempts attributed to endogenous depression was noted specifically in 1990.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal relationship issues, specifically within partnerships, remain a critical factor in suicide attempts.
• Socio-economic shifts, like changes in employment status, may indirectly influence suicidal behavior, but direct causality is complex.
• Specific psychiatric conditions, such as endogenous depression, may show temporal increases in association with certain periods or events.