Characteristics of suicidal behavior in a Turkish sample

Abstract

Background: Suicidal behavior is one of the most important problems in psychiatric clinics. Several sociodemographic anclinical characteristics may have different effects on suicidal behavior. Aims: To examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristic: of a sample of 144 suicide attempters admitted to a Turkish emergency clinic for a suicide attempt. Methods: All subjects were interviewee by a consultant psychiatrist. For all individuals, data on DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses, sociodemo graphic data, Beck's Hopelessnes:Scale (BHS), Becks's Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS), and Beck's Suicidal Intention Scale (BSIS) were collected. Results: The majority osuicide attempters were females characterized by low educational status and low religious orientation. Drug overdose was the mos common method of suicide attempt and conflict within the family was the most frequent psychological stress factor. Three-quarters o attempters (74.6%) met DSM-IV criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Of these, 28.5% met criteria for major depressive disorder Suicide attempters with depression tended to be immigrant, urban dwellers with high scores on the suicide intent scale. Conclusions: In the present study, the findings are useful in showing the risk factors related to suicidal behavior. ©2009 Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.