Citation

Patterson AA, Holden RR. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2012; 42(2): 147-156.

Affiliation

Allisha A. Patterson and Ronald R. Holden, Psychology Department, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1943-278X.2011.00078.x

PMID

22324750

Abstract

Suicide ideation among the homeless is 10 times more common than in the general population. Cognitive theories of depression and hopelessness propose to explain suicidality; however, as yet, none of these fully account for the phenomenon. Shneidman has suggested a theory of psychache or unbearable psychological pain to explain suicidality. This theory has found support among low-risk populations but has not been extensively tested within a high-risk population. The current research assessed the utility of psychache among men who are homeless (N = 97). In support of Shneidman's theory, analyses revealed that psychache was a stronger predictor of suicide ideation than was depression, hopelessness, or life meaning.

Language: en