The Suicide Opinion Questionnaire was administered to 100 Italian and
100 United States physicians, comparable in age, gender, and medical f
ield. Significant differences were obtained on seven of the eight SOQ
scales, with Italian physicians showing greater agreement on the menta
l illness, right to die, religion, impulsivity, normality, aggression,
and moral evil scales. Gender differences were obtained in both sampl
es, with males scoring higher. These results are discussed in terms of
cultural differences, especially the role of Catholicism.