ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Parasuicide (suicidal attempt) is an intentional, self-aggressive behaviour intended to damage the body rather than cause death. About 75% of suicidal attempts are those committed for the first time. The majority of suicidal attempts are impulsive. About 66% of the parasuicide patients said that they had thought about the act for less than an hour beforehand. Only 30% of the patients had been psychiatrically diagnosed before they were admitted to the hospital. After prompt re-diagnosing, the percentage was considerably lower. The aim of the work is to analyse, using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-DMS subscale) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the self-assessment of the psychical condition of patients hospitalised at the Acute Poisonings Clinic, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland, for attempted suicide. The study subjects included 222 patients (148 women and 74 men) treated in 2003. The control comprised 137 volunteers random-selected from among patients visiting Institute's Outpatient Clinic of Occupational Diseases. The psychiatric testing revealed mood and personality disorders, and acute stress disorders. Depression or other psychotic reactions were not diagnosed in any of the cases. Mean MMPI subscale scoring for the women was 10.7 (subjects) and 3.5 (control). The MMPI rating after 6 months since the attempted suicide was 6.03, i.e. by 4.3 scores lower. The corresponding values for the men were 10.1 (subjects) and 3.06 (control), and after 6 months the value was 4.64, by 5.46 scores lower. Mean BDI scale scoring for the women was 10.56 (subjects) and 7.9 (control). The BDI score after 6 months since the poisoning was 7.74, i.e. by 2.83 scores lower. The corresponding values for the men were 10.77 (subjects) and 5.27 (control), and after 6 months the value was by 2.86 scores lower. The results are statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results show that 6 months after the suicidal attempt, the self-assessment of patients' psychical condition improves, the mood normalises. The suicidal attempt is often an impulsive act intended to relieve the rapidly growing stress.
