SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF REPEATED SUICIDE ATTEMPTS

Aim of the study: to evaluate psychological peculiarities of suicide attempt repeaters in comparison with group with a single suicide attempt. Methods. Data of the assessment of 370 young adults who participated in the genetic study of suicides and suicide attempts (GISS, mean age - 25,31 y.o.) were analyzed. The group consisted of 170 males (mean age - 25,24 y.o.) and 200 females (mean age - 25,37 y.o.). From the whole group 44,6% (n=164) have reported previous suicide attempt(s), of these 61,6% participants (n=101) have claimed 1 previous suicide attempt, 16,5% (n=27) - 2, 6,1% (n=10) - 3 and 15,8% (n=25) - 4 and more previous suicide attempts. Mean age of repeaters was 26,99 y.o., while mean age of first-timers was 23,96 y.o., the difference was statistically confirmed. The groups were compared with regards of the parasuicide methods, some psychological features, personality traits within the frame of the Big Five model, besides the score of the suicidal act intent (using Beck Suicide Intent Scale, BSIS) was calculated. The data was processed by the SPSS 17.0 program. Results. It was revealed, that repeaters and first-timers differ in many domains. In particular, among self-harm of repeaters more violent methods (X70, hanging, strangulation and suffocation) were twice more frequent, they also had higher depression scores in Beck's Depression Inventory, BDI (p<0,002), they were more prone to violent actions and thoughts Plutchik's Feelings and Acts of Violence Scale, PFAV (p<0,0001), and expressed higher pessimism and hopelessness Beck's Hopelessness Scale, BHS, (p<0,001). It is remarkable that repeaters have reported significantly higher life stress (p = 0,007), counted as negative life events accumulation. The study of personality traits have revealed that though all attempters had rather typical elevated Neuroticism (respectively 57,99/59,97) and lowered Agreeableness (47,89/47,25 respectively) and Conscientiousness (45,35/43,95 respectively), repeaters had even higher Angry Hostility (n2=57,81; p<0,05), Impulsivity (n5=54,35; p<0,01) and lower Altruism (i.e. higher egoism) (a3=45,76; p<0,05). Moreover, their intention to die was higher (p=0,000) while their social support was lower (p=0,000). Many of the above mentioned variables are correlated, which implies formation of a certain internal inclination to iterating self-harm, or even of the stable behavioral and psychological suicidal scenario or suicidal career. Conclusion. Suicide attempts repeaters have many psychological peculiarities that testify of the elevated suicide risk among them. This contingent must be the subject of the most serious attitude (in particular, in evaluating the post-suicide) both in the emergency ward and during psychological consulting or psychotherapy.