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Published on: March 8, 2018
Clinical evolution after self-induced or accidental traumatism: a controlled study of the extent and the specificity
C Jallade1, Y Sarfati, M-C Hardy-Baylé
1Department of Psychiatry, Versailles Hospital Center, France. cjallade@ch-versailles.fr
Background:
The cathartic effect has been related to the short-term decrease of depressive symptomatology following the suicide attempt. This study aimed to clarify the extent of this clinical improvement to non self-induced traumas and other suicidal dimensions.
Methods:
Twenty-six recent suicide attempters were compared with 21 control subjects admitted to the surgical ward after an accident-induced trauma. They completed several assessments the day after the admission and one week after discharge: Hamilton and Carroll Depression scales, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Hopelessness scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, MMPI (abbreviated version), Global Assessment Scale.
Results:
Depression, anxiety-state, two sub-scales of the MMPI (Hysteria, Depression) and general functioning improved significantly in the suicide attempters group. Measures of impulsivity and hopelessness remained stable during the follow-up.
Limitations:
These results cannot not be generalized to all suicide attempters and we did not take account of the lethality and severity of the suicidal method used.
Conclusion:
Our study supports the specific role of deliberate self-aggression in the cathartic effect and the trait value of both impulsivity and hopelessness.
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