This study is aimed to establish biological, psychological, and social risk factors for a group of patients hospitalized following a suicide attempt or suicide ideation, and controls. Patients were characterized by different degrees of severity, namely: 1)Nearly Lethal Suicide Attempt 2)Suicide Attempt with a Survival Strategy 3)Suicidal Ideation without Suicide Attempt, 4) Control inpatients without suicide ideation or history.

We evaluated nearly 100 patients using several scales for the assessment of: Personality, Reasons for Living, Axis I, Social factors and History of previous suicide attempts.

There is a higher proportion of young, adolescent, single and female patients. Most of them asked for help after the suicide attempt. The majority had a comorbid diagnosis for substance abuse. In reference to personality disorders, we found counterintuitively, that those who made a Nearly Lethal Suicide attempt were healthier than the subjects who's suicide attempt was less severe.

This finding is also reflected in the fact that those with a less severe suicide attempt rated much higher on impulsivity and also were much less satisfied with their family and friends. This last trait is probably associated with personality disorders.

Patients who made a Nearly lethal suicide attempt had much higher on the Reasons for Living questionnaire. Compared to less severe suicide attempters, they had more reasons to stay alive. This last finding might be an early aftereffect of the attempt.