Changing patterns of attempted suicide in Greece: clinicoepidemiological and psychodynamic data

Greece is known to have one of the lowest rates of both completed and attempted suicides. Yet during the last three decades the pattern of suicide attempts has shown some differentiations, which point to possible changes in family structure and social behavior, bringing the pattern closer to that of western countries. While in 1971-72 the ratio of male to female attempters was 1:4.6, in 1994-96 it was 1:2.3 - the mean age rose from early to middle adulthood - more married people attempted suicide than before - more attempters took alcohol before the act etc. There are, nevertheless, many steady features, e.g. the low rates of attempters in old age (above 65 years: 7.9% of the total), the methods used, the type of preceding stressful life events (more financial than emotional in males), no drug abuse etc. Since the low rates of suicide attempts in Greece have been attributed to cultural parameters and the close bonds in the family, psychodynamic studies were also carried out, which showed that adolescent attempters preserve the ability for outward aggression and their self-destructive act is due to other than intrapsychic factors (usually social and relational problems).