[Forensic-psychological analysis of attempted suicides in toxicomaniacs]

The authors examined 70 toxicomaniacs incl. 30 who attempted suicide at least one. They analyzed the motivation and causes which made the adolescent attempt suicide. The drastic manner of attempted suicide-cutting veins of the forearm and wrist predominated ans was recored in 56.6%. 83.3% attempted suicide during acute intoxication. Mild cerebral dysfunction was observed in 43.3% of those attempting suicide. Defective behavior was recorded in the case-history of 63.3%. In 80% of those attempting suicide the family and social environment was unfavourable. Dependence on psychotropic drugs for more than one year was found in 80% and polytoxicomania in 90% of the cases. Volatile psychotropic substances cause considerable deterioration of already existing changes of personality of encephalopathic or psychopathic origin; they act probably as "hasteners" or "catalyzers" and thus condition the motivation for suicide. This fact is important in particular for forensic psychology and expert opinions on cases of completed suicide.