Self-Destructive and Suicidal Behaviors in a Neuropsychiatric Inpatient Facility

This study of self-destructive behavior in a psychiatric hospital suggests that persons making the most serious attempts are likely to be suffering from a depressive reaction and to make their attempt during the day (particularly in the early afternoon); they are not likely to repeat the attempt during their hospitalization. In contrast, persons making less serious attempts are likely to have been diagnosed as suffering from adjustment reaction or schizophrenic reaction and to make their attempt during the evening hours; they tend to make recurrent superficial attempts during one period of hospitalization.