Depressed inpatients, electrodermal reactivity, and suicide – a study about psychophysiology of suicidal behavior

Authors: Wolfersdorf M.¹; Straub R.²; Barg T.³; Keller F.³; Kaschka W.P.³

Source: Archives of Suicide Research, Volume 5, Number 1, 1999 , pp. 1-10(10)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This study deals with the psychophysiological (electrodermal reactivity in a habituation experiment, habituation score) basis of suicidal behaviour. It shows habituation data of 30 suicides with violent method compared to age- and sex-matched control groups with different suicidal expressions, on a large database of a total sample of 504 depressed inpatients.

The major finding of a significantly reduced electrodermal reactivity (habituation score) in suicidal action versus suicidal thinking confirms early results but in a comprehensive large sample. Also, it confirms our clinical hypothesis of a biological basis of suicidal action, specially in suicidal acts with violent methods.

Keywords: biological basis of violent suicidality; depression; electrodermal reactivity; habituation score; hyporeactivity

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Bezirkskrankenhaus Bayreuth, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nordring 2, D-95445 Bayreuth, gERMANY 2: Clinical psychophysiology and behavioural medicine, Centre OF Psychiatry Weissenau, Department of Psychiatry I at the University of Ulm Weingartshoferstr. 2, D-88214 Ravensburg-Weissenau, gERMANY 3: Follow-up Research Group, Department of Depression/Suicidology, Centre of Psychiatry Weissenau, Department of Psychiatry I at the University of Ulm. Weingartshoferstr. 2, D-88214 Ravensburg- Weissenau, Germany

Publication date: 1999-01-01