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Suicide Among People with Multiple Sclerosis

National Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, Washington School of Psychiatry, and Washington Psychological Center, Washington, D.C.

Linda Samuel

the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Capital Chapter, Washington, D.C.

A sample of twenty-four multiple sclerosis subjects who had completed suicide was compared to twenty-two MS subjects who had made nonfatal attempts and a matched group of twenty-two nonsuicidal MS subjects. Extensive structured interviews and rating scales were administered to subjects (attempters and controls) and knowledgeable informants (completers). Results indicated that completers were more likely to be males, unemployed and experiencing financial stress, who used a gun to commit suicide. They were also more severely disabled, in a late stage (chronic-progressive) phase of MS, who displayed signs of unendurable psychic pain. Coping patterns of completers were marked by an inability to express feelings, ask for help, and, consequently, interpersonal withdrawal and isolation from potential supports. Implications, particularly for greater efforts toward outreach on the part of support groups, are discussed.

Key Words: Suicide • MS • Suicide risk • Coping style • Outreach.

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 7, No. 2, 53-62 (1993)
DOI: 10.1177/136140969300700202


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