Antisuicidal (protective) factors in recovery from schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction Determination of antisuicidal factors (AF) in balance with risk factors for suicidal behavior (SB) is essential for treatment and prophylactic measures. Objectives Study AF in a sample of schizophrenic recovered patients (F.20, ICD-10) according to operational criteria R.P. Liberman et al. (2002). Methods The content analysis of published self-reports of a sample (n = 13) of Russian and foreign psychiatrists and clinical psychologists with psychotic experience was used as a part of a more extensive qualitative analysis of «wounded healers». Results In the history of > ½ (i.e., 7) ex-patients, repeated SPs (aborted suicides), as well as non-suicidal self-harm (e.g., self-cutting), were noted during the active period of the disease, and in four of them – during untreated psychosis. Following AFs can be distinguished in recovery state: clinical (absence of potentially suicidogenic residual depression or/and anxiety, according to criteria N.C. Andreasen et al. (2005) social (professional goals, coping with stigmatization), and existential (e.g., hope, gaining a whole Self ). Conclusions AF is an important integral component of recovery in schizophrenia as a process of personality development despite a burden of severe mental disorders. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• schizophrénia
• Recovery
• self-reports
• antisuicidal factors