A Dynamic Developmental Model of Suicide

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Abstract
Based on the work by Prigogine and colleagues from physics and other ‘hard’ sciences, a method is presented for studying and developing models of the dynamics of developmental changes in complex open systems. The process of the development of suicide is analysed in terms of a dynamic model of changes in suicidal tendencies over time. Phase plane analysis based on this model indicates that fluctuations and discontinuities observed in clinical and empirical research on suicide can be explained according to this dynamic model. Under certain conditions, minor fluctuations may incite rapid development toward suicide or inhibit suicidality. The method of analysis and developmental modelling is applicable to other phenomena involving changes in complex human behaviours in an open system.

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