[Differential typology among patients with hard and soft suicide methods]

Two samples of patients admitted during one year after suicide attempts were compared: patients of the University Surgical Department in Heidelberg and a random sample of those who were admitted to the detoxication ward of the University Department for Internal Medicine. The frequency of patients who used "hard" methods was 10% of those using "soft" methods. Patients with hard suicide methods displayed more social desintegration, were more often psychiatrically ill, had a shorter presuicidal phase, a shorter time span from decision to execution of the suicidal attempt, more negative self-esteem and more chronic suicidality. Aggressiveness was low in both groups. Although the number of patients with "hard" suicidal methods is small and does not justify a special service in the Surgical Hospital, these patients need particularly careful supervision because of their psychopathological and psychosocial profile.