Prognostic Factors in Attempted Suicide

The author analyzes clinical and social data collected from 300 patients at the time of a suicide attempt and one year after the attempt. He was able to gather data for 299 patients at one-year follow-up. The results of the follow-up showed prognostic significance for three factors: interpersonal conflict, svmptom distress, and the social setting of the suicide attempt. The significance of these factors in predicting further suicide attempts calls attention to the need for psychiatrists to take cognizance of the social world of the patient following a suicide attempt.