The intensive care unit and the suicide attempt patient

Forty consecutively admitted suicide attempt patients, their 70 significant others, and the intensive care unit's personnel were interviewed about their feelings and reactions during the patients' stay on the intensive care unit. The patients belonged to three diagnostic groups. The most prominent feelings and reactions were shame and resistance towards the personnel in the neurosis group, anger and uneasiness in the abuse group, and indifference and apathy in the prepsychosis/psychosis group. The personnel did not observe the patients' underlying feelings and primarily responded to the patients' observable behaviour with different types of reactions, ranging from empathy to distancing and aggression. The latter reactions were due, in part, to the difficulties in dialogue between the patients and the personnel which aroused fear and anxiety in the personnel. The personnel's difficulties in communication with the patients, and the resulting problems are discussed. Significant others did not receive any support, in spite of their need for psychological help.