TEMPERAMENTAL VULNERABILITY AND SUICIDE RISK AFTER ATTEMPTED-SUICIDE

The aim was to extend recent findings of suggested temperamental featu res in attempted suicide and to explore possible domains of vulnerabil ity to suicide risk after attempted suicide. Fifty-four psychiatric in patients hospitalized after a suicide attempt underwent lumbar punctur e for analysis of CSF 5-HIAA concentration and also completed the Karo linska Scales of Personality (MSPI before discharge from the hospital. Suicide attempters scoped high on Somatic Anxiety, Psychic Anxiety, a nd Muscular Tension, and low on Socialization, findings that support r ecent findings in suicide attempters followed up after an emergency ro om visit. Five patients committed early suicide, i.e., within 3 years, and the overall long-term suicide mortality after attempted suicide w as 13%. There were significant correlations between survival time amon g early suicides and CSF 5-HIAA (r = .87; p = .054), and the following KSP scale t scores: Somatic Anxiety (r = -.96; p < .05), Impulsivity (r = -.88; p < .05), and Socialization (r = .90; p < .05). KSP Sociali zation showed correlations with CSF 5-HIAA (r = .89; p = .046) among t he early suicides. Features of temperamental vulnerability to suicide risk after attempted suicide might involve anxiety proneness, impulsiv ity, low socialization, and low CSF 5-HIAA.