Abstract
This paper postulates that abnormalities of consciousness can play an important role in the psychopathology of suicide and also as major factors leading to self destruction.
Five cases, chosen both from the literature and from personal clinical experience, are presented to illustrate how consciousness disturbances can lead to suicide.
The concept of passive attention of William James is considered as highly relevant, not only during sleep mentation but also during consciousness abnormalities. It would appear that this mechanism produces a substantial restriction in the capacity to see alternatives other than suicide as a solution to solve conflict situations.
It is suggested that further clinical investigation should be devoted to this aspect of the psychopathology and phenomenology of suicide.