Citation

Hutchinson MP, Draguns JG. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 1987; 17(4): 288-298.

Affiliation

Pennsylvania State University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3424398

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility that chronic exposure in childhood to parental suicidal ideation and/or behavior places an individual at significant risk of suicide later in life. Two case studies that provide the basis for this formulation are presented. Possible mechanisms that may account for the development of this syndrome are explored. They include (1) the effects of a chronic sense of powerlessness and guilt; (2) imitation by the child of the parent's self-destructive attitudes and behavior; and (3) blocking of early identification with the other, nonsuicidal parent.