The British Journal of Psychiatry 139: 306-312 (1981)
© 1981 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

The meaning of attempted suicide to young parasuicides: a repertory grid study

A Parker

In an attempt to clarify the intentional aspect of parasuicide, constructs in response to a supposed crisis were elicited from a group of overdose patients, using the standard method of contrasting elements. In this case the elements were presented as a list of 11 alternative behaviours (including overdose and suicide) possible in such a situation. Using 9 of the most common constructs obtained, a repertory grid was administered to a second group of overdose patients and by computer analysis consensus group grids were obtained for patients scoring high and low on the Beck suicidal intent scale. These consensus grids showed that the low intent group perceived an overdose (in comparison to other alternative behaviours) as similar to 'being alone and crying' and 'getting drunk' and construed it almost exclusively as an escape from tension. In contrast, the high intent group perceived overdose and suicide in quite similar terms. The data indicated that an overdose may have a respite function for low suicidal intent patients.