ABSTRACT
Patients with a history of previous parasuicide were compared to those who had made their first attempt. A scale for suicidal ideation derived from the Scaled Version of the General Health Questionnaire was completed by patients. ICD-10 personality disorder diagnoses were derived from the Standardized Assessment of Personality which was administered to knowledgeable informants. Logistic regression showed that unemployment, increasing severity of suicidal ideation, previous psychiatric treatment and borderline personality disorder increased the risk of reports of previous parasuicide. Anankastic personality disorder decreased the risk of reports of previous parasuicide. Unemployment and specific personality disorders have independent risks for repetition of parasuicide. Specific ICD-10 personality disorders may increase or decrease the risk for repetition of parasuicide.
Subject(s)
Life Change Events , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Disorders/psychology , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Self-Injurious Behavior , South Africa , Unemployment/psychologyABSTRACT
In 1980 and 1990 reports were published in the SAMJ on the attitudes of South African gynaecologists to the present Abortion and Sterilisation Act of 1975. The proportion of respondents favouring abortion on demand in the first trimester rose from 32% to 40% over this period, while that of respondents requesting a review of the Act increased from 71% to 85%. The Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa decided to conduct a similar survey of its members using the same questionnaire with some additional questions on current psychiatric practice. Of the 50% of psychiatrists who responded, 78% were personally involved in the implementation of the Act. Some 51% of psychiatrists supported termination on request before the 12th week of pregnancy, an equal number felt that the role of psychiatrists in the implementation of the Act should be reduced, and 89% considered that the present Abortion and Sterilisation Act requires review. Thus, many psychiatrists and gynaecologists are seeking a revision of existing legislation on the medical termination of pregnancy.
