Symptom patterns and the acceptance of the ‘sick role’ in attempted suicide

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Abstract
Study has been made of 300 patients who have attempted suicide. Most were young people, predominantly women, in the age group 21 to 45 years old. Data were collected within 1 week of the attempt and a follow-up made on the status of 299 of the patients at least I year or more after. The attitudes of ‘significant other’ people, e.g. parent, boy friend, spouse, were also assessed. Almost all the patients had difficult interpersonal relationships. The majority presented a clinical picture of depressive reaction. The author discusses the symptom patterns of the patients in relation to the key variables of anxiety, guilt, tension, diagnosis, age, sex, patient status, and the nature of the suicidal act. The importance in prognosis of interpersonal conflict, symptom distress and the social setting of the attempt is stressed.

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