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Overdoses: Explanations and Attitudes in Self-Poisoners and Significant Others

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Diane James  and
Keith Hawton
Diane James
Affiliation:
Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX
Keith Hawton
Affiliation:
Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX
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Summary

Marked differences were found between the reasons chosen to explain overdoses by the closest relatives or friends (the ‘significant others’) of 34 self-poisoners and those reasons chosen by the self-poisoners themselves. Whilst 41% of the latter claimed suicidal intent, in only one case was the significant other in agreement. The significant others were more likely to attribute manipulative reasons, commonly viewing the overdoses as directed at themselves, but the two groups agreed that the overdoses were often a means of alleviating distress. As well as evoking sympathy, the overdoses often caused the significant others to feel considerable guilt and anger. Discrepancies in the way self-poisoners and significant others interpret overdoses, and the strong feelings that overdoses evoke in the latter, should be considered during assessment and treatment of overdose patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 146 , Issue 5 , May 1985 , pp. 481 - 485
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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