[The suicidal approach-/rejection syndrome. The assessment of suicidal risk based on communication pathology]

In the case of attempted suicide, the patient unconsciously and/or consciously manipulates people in his surroundings in communication-intending behaviour, whereas in the case of committed suicide, the patient shows communication-rejecting behaviour. This phenomenological description of suicidal behaviour is explained in a theory of communication in such a way that communication-intending behaviour is shown by the communication-style of aggression, and communication-rejecting behaviour is characterized by the communication-style of rejection. Finally an attempt is made to describe syndromically communication-intending behaviour, characteristic of attempted suicide, or communication-rejecting behaviour, typical for committed suicide, taking into account all essential psycho-biological components. This new instrument for estimating suicidality is used in a representative sample for Salzburg of 185 attempted suicides. It is thereby shown that a syndrome of purely communication-intending behaviour or a typical communication-rejection syndrome only occurs among a small percentage. In the majority of probands both psychodynamic and biological factors are responsible for the attempted suicide.