Citation

Platt SD, Dyer JA. Br. J. Psychiatry 1987; 151: 27-32.

Affiliation

MRC Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Morningside Park, Edinburgh.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3676623

Abstract

Variations in clinical features associated with unemployment among a sample of male parasuicides were examined. Employed and unemployed persons did not differ in mean scores on the Suicidal Intent Scale, but the unemployed were rated significantly worse on measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and hopelessness (Hopelessness Scale). A covariance analysis showed that hopelessness, rather than depression, is the important discriminator. Different patterns of relationships between the three clinical measures were observed in the two groups. Hopelessness may be a key social-psychological variable for inclusion in any model of the pathways which link unemployment with parasuicide.

Language: en