[Causes of suicide attempts in patients undergoing psychiatric hospitalization--a preliminary study]

Suicide is difficult and dramatic act of deliberately taking one's own life. The causes of suicidal behavior are complex and include both sociological as well as psychological and neurobiological factors associated with the dysfunction of the central nervous system.

The aim of study was to analyse tha causes of suicidal behavior.

The study comprised of 76 individuals. The study group included 48 patients hospitalized in the Babiński Memorial Hospital in Łódź, Poland who have attempted suicide act recently or in the past. Each patient completed psychological tests: Basic Hope Inventory (BHI-12), in evaluating Evaluation Crisis Questionnaire (KKW), The Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ).

Statistical analysis revealed personality disorders and affective disorders to be the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis among patients, who attempted suicide. Patients from the study group had specific psychological characteristics. The most common suicide method was drug intoxication.

Suicide prevention should include somatic and psychiatric morbidity and a thorough analysis of psychological functioning. This would help to better understand the mechanisms underlying suicide and extract a group of people with a significantly increased risk of suicidal behavior so that we could apply adequate prevention methods.