Why Suicide? The Analysis of Motives for Self-Harm. Issue 2 (19th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abbas, Mohammed J.; Mohanna, Mostafa A.; Diab, Tarig A.; Chikoore, Millicent; Wang, Michael
• Is Part Of: Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy. Volume 46:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 209
• Page End: 225
• Publication Date: 2017-06-19
• Subjects: suicide, -- self-harm, -- types of suicide, -- meaning of suicide, -- meaning of self-harm, -- motives; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S135246581700042X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4658

Abstract

Abstract : Background : There is a gap in understanding the meaning and motives behind suicidal behaviour. Using the Ideal Type methodology, Jean Baechler systematically examined the internal logic of suicidal and self-harming behaviours. He developed a typology of eleven typical meanings/motives: Flight, Grief, Self-punishment, Vengeance, Crime, Blackmail, Appeal, Sacrifice, Transfiguration, Ordeal and Game.Aims: To develop and validate a standardized instrument to measure the motives/meanings of suicidal and self-harming behaviours, using Baechler's typology.Method : We developed a self-fill Likert questionnaire (Ideal Typical Meaning Questionnaire, ITMQ) covering ten of Baechler's eleven types. The questionnaire was completed by 147 patients within four weeks of attempting suicide or self-harm. The Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) questionnaire was used to examine the concurrent validity of the Flight and the Transfiguration types and to explore the association between suicidal/self-harming motives and views about death.Results: The final 25-item ITMQ has an eight-factor structure (Appeal/Blackmail, Ordeal/Game, Vengeance, Self-punishment, Sacrifice, Flight, Grief and Transfiguration) supporting Baechler's theory. The types have adequate reliability. Correlations with the DAP-R gave some support for the concurrent validity of the Flight and Transfiguration types.Conclusions : The ITMQ is a measure of suicidal and self-harming motives/meanings based on a sound conceptual framework and could significantly contribute to the understanding of suicidal and self-harming behaviour in research and clinical settings.