Examining the Importance of Mental Pain and Physical Dissociation and the Fluid Nature of Suicidality in Young Suicide Attempters

Abstract

This study evaluated the importance of distress (i.e., mental pain, tolerance of mental pain, and depression) and physical dissociation factors for a group of young suicide attempters. Analyses indicated that those with higher current suicidality also evidenced higher current levels of depression and mental pain, lower mental pain tolerance, and higher physical dissociation. However, no correlations between suicidality and distress or physical dissociation were found when the level of suicidality was based on the time of the suicide attempt. The results demonstrate the importance of mental pain and its tolerance as well as physical dissociation in assessing severity of suicidality. However, analyses suggest there might be a decline in suffering after a suicide attempt and highlight the importance of assessing current suicidality when evaluating relevant variables for suicide. Findings are interpreted with regard to theories relating to the fluctuating nature of suicidality.