Hostility and Depression Associated with Suicide Attempts

¹ Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Superintendent, Erich Lindemann Mental Health Center; and Clinical Director, Psychiatry Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Hostility and depression are important factors associated with suicide attempts. Efforts to determine their respective importance, however, have been hindered because they are correlated to some extent with each other and with age and sex. The authors compared 29 acutely depressed women and 29 matched suicide attempters. Manifest hostility emerged as an important distinguishing characteristic of the suicide attempters, who had pervasive and overtly hostile relationships, a poor long-term work history, antisocial behavior, and were demanding and hostile during psychiatric interview. This contrasted with the depressives, who were compliant at interview. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Oquendo, M. E. Bongiovi-Garcia, H. Galfalvy, P. H. Goldberg, M. F. Grunebaum, A. K. Burke, and J. J. Mann Sex Differences in Clinical Predictors of Suicidal Acts After Major Depression: A Prospective Study Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2007; 164(1): 134 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Dumais, A.D. Lesage, M. Alda, G. Rouleau, M. Dumont, N. Chawky, M. Roy, J.J. Mann, C. Benkelfat, and G. Turecki Risk Factors for Suicide Completion in Major Depression: A Case-Control Study of Impulsive and Aggressive Behaviors in Men Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2005; 162(11): 2116 - 2124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Mann, Y.-y. Huang, M. D. Underwood, S. A. Kassir, S. Oppenheim, T. M. Kelly, A. J. Dwork, and V. Arango A Serotonin Transporter Gene Promoter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Prefrontal Cortical Binding in Major Depression and Suicide Arch Gen Psychiatry, August 1, 2000; 57(8): 729 - 738. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Mann, C. Waternaux, G. L. Haas, and K. M. Malone Toward a Clinical Model of Suicidal Behavior in Psychiatric Patients Am J Psychiatry, February 1, 1999; 156(2): 181 - 189. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Jensen Psychosocial Treatment of Depression in Women: Nine Single-Subject Evaluations Research on Social Work Practice, July 1, 1994; 4(3): 267 - 282. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Szapocznik, D. Santisteban, W. M. Kurtines, O. Hervis, and F. Spencer Life Enhancement Counseling and the Treatment of Depressed Cuban American Elders Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, December 1, 1982; 4(4): 487 - 502. [Abstract]

				H. Vera, G. W. Barnard, C. W. Holtzer, and M. I. Vera Violence and Sexuality: Three Types of Defendants Criminal Justice and Behavior, September 1, 1980; 7(3): 243 - 255. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. D. Hankoff and B. Einsidler Drug Abuse among Suicide Attempters Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, January 1, 1976; 20(1): 26 - 32.

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 1973 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us