[Comparative study of 295 patients with first and repeated suicide attempts]

After their first suicide attempts 169 patients were compared to 109 repeated suicide attempters regarding sociodemographical, biographical, and psychopathological variables. The differences between the groups characterize the repeaters as persons with more broken-home situations in childhood and youth and with more tension and instability in private and occupational relationships. These patients received more psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment, were more often classified as suffering from a personality disorder or addiction and their prognosis was estimated less favourable. These findings are consistent with the results of other investigations. Questions of typological interpretation and practical consequences are discussed.