[Attempted suicide in females: a prospective study]. / La conducta suicida en mujeres: un estudio prospectivo.

BACKGROUND: A previous suicide attempt is one of the strongest predictors of future suicidal behavior. AIM: To explore the evolution of suicidal tendencies in women who attempted suicide 5 to 7 years earlier. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety two women aged 37 +/- 9 years old, that attempted suicide between 1989 and 1991 were followed and reassessed in 1997. RESULTS: In the study period two women committed suicide and 30 attempted suicide. Forty three percent of new self harm behaviors occurred during the first year after the first suicide attempt and the harming method was similar. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 34% of women with previous suicide attempts, repeated this behavior, using similar methods.

[Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of women who attempted suicide]. / Características sociodemográficas y clínicas de mujeres que intentaron suicidarse.

Sociodemographic and clinical features of 124 female suicide attempters, referred to the psychiatric unit of a general hospital have been assessed by means of semistructured interviews, and Pierce's Suicide Intent Scale. Mean age was 30.8 +/- 9.8 years. Subjects' socioeconomic and educational status were low. Attempts were impulsive in 70%, the most frequent method subjects resorted to was overdose (68%). Most common causes for the attempt were difficulties with either marital life or relatives. The attempt was assessed as severe in 45% of cases. Previous attempts were found in 56%. At assessment, 50% of subjects were with Major Depression (DMS-III-R). Subjects with recurrent depressive disorders evidenced a significantly higher rate of severe attempts, and previous suicidal episodes. Findings reported herein are relevant to a secondary prevention of suicidal behavior.

Características sociodemográficas y clínicas de mujeres que intentaron suicidarse. / [Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of women who attempted suicide]

Sociodemographic and clinical features of 124 female suicide attempters, referred to the psychiatric unit of a general hospital have been assessed by means of semistructured interviews, and Pierces Suicide Intent Scale. Mean age was 30.8 +/- 9.8 years. Subjects socioeconomic and educational status were low. Attempts were impulsive in 70

, the most frequent method subjects resorted to was overdose (68

). Most common causes for the attempt were difficulties with either marital life or relatives. The attempt was assessed as severe in 45

of cases. Previous attempts were found in 56

. At assessment, 50

of subjects were with Major Depression (DMS-III-R). Subjects with recurrent depressive disorders evidenced a significantly higher rate of severe attempts, and previous suicidal episodes. Findings reported herein are relevant to a secondary prevention of suicidal behavior.

[The influence of personality on suicidal behavior]. / La influencia de la personalidad en la conducta suicida.

With the purpose of studying the influence of personality on suicidal behavior, 63 female suicide attempters were assessed by means of standardized interviews, Eysenck's personality questionnaire (EPQ-R) and other psychometric scales. Personality disorders (DMS III-R) were found in almost 70 per 100 and associated with previous attempts, higher hopelessness, suicide ideation, and to a more severe attempt. The most relevant dimensions were psychoticism and extraversion. The first one correlated to repetition, hopelessness, and suicide ideation; the second exerted a moderating effect, showing association with feelings of conformity towards survival. Neuroticism showed a rather unspecific effect on studied factors. Results confirm a relationship between personality disorders and suicidal behavior, and suggest possible mediating variables.

[Suicide attempt and hopelessness]. / Intento suicida y desesperanza.

Suicidal subjects can be divided into those who think about suicide, those who attempt it and those who complete it. Since any suicidal manifestation is a potential risk this classification can also be treated as a continuum of increasing severity. This paper reports on the relationship between the psychological dimension of hopelessness and factors such as suicidal ideation, depressiveness, suicide attempt and attempt repetition. Data from 63 female patients with a recent suicide attempt from an ambulatory psychiatric service in Santiago South were clinically and psychometrically evaluated by means of appropriate instruments. Hopelessness correlated positively with severity of depression, number of previous attempts, current suicidal ideation and suicidal intent. Hopelessness score of 11 or more were frustrated by survival and were ambivalent. The mediating role of hopelessness between depression and suicidality is stressed.

[Analysis of the psychodynamic aspects of the dentist-patient relationship. 1. Symbolism of the oral cavity]. / Análisis de aspectos psicodinámicos de la relacion odontoestomatólogo-paciente. I parte: Simbolismos de la cavidad bucal.

Authors carry out an analysis about odonto-stomatologist-patient relationship, from a psychoanalytic approach. This first part deals about the symbolic contents of the oral cavity which enhance the emergency of regression in the patient.

[Analysis of the psychodynamic aspects of the dentist-patient relationship. 2. Regression of the patient]. / Analisis de aspectos psicodinámicos de la relación odontoestomatologo-paciente. II parte: La regresión del paciente.

Authors analyse the regression phenomenon in the context odonto-stomatologist-patient relationship, covering the study of transference, countertransference and the painful and anguish sensations.