PSYCHOMOTOR FUNCTIONING IN SUICIDE ATTEMPTERS - AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY USING THE RESOURCE ORIENTED BODY EXAMINATION OF BUNKAN

Within physical therapy there is a tradition of focusing on body-orien ted resources and psychomotor functioning. The aim of the present expl orative study was to describe psychomotor functioning such as patterns of muscular tension, posture, resistance to passive movements, respir ation, and reactions to palpation in a group of suicide attempters adm itted to the Lund Suicide Research Center, Sweden. Fifty-three consecu tive patients were included in the study (28 women and 25 men; mean ag e, 42 years; standard deviation, 13; range, 21-80 years). The Resource Oriented Body Examination (ROBE) of Buncan was used to assess psychom otor functioning. In addition, some other tests were undertaken, such as laboratory tests (monoamine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma cortisol after dexamethasone) and temperament ratings. Results indicated that the patients generally showed a high level of psychomot or disturbance as compared with reference values. The ROBE total score was significantly higher in patients who later completed suicide than in the non-completer group (P = 0.02). Two ROBE subgroups were identi fied. The hypotonic group (n = 19) showed a higher frequency of respir ation disturbances (P = 0.01) than the hypertonic group (n = 34). The hypotonic subgroup also had a significantly higher rate of completed s uicides at a follow-up 5 years later (P = 0.048). With regard to bioch emical tests, the hypotonic group comprised significantly more cases w ith high levels of cortisol after dexamethasone (P = 0.02). In conclus ion, controlled studies of psychomotor functioning in suicide attempte rs ought to be performed. In our opinion the results of the present st udy generate interesting hypotheses.