Antisuicidal (protective) factors in recovery from schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION: Determination of antisuicidal factors (AF) in balance with risk factors for suicidal behavior (SB) is essential for treatment and prophylactic measures. OBJECTIVES: Study AF in a sample of schizophrenic recovered patients (F.20, ICD-10) according to operational criteria R.P. Liberman et al. (2002). METHODS: The content analysis of published self-reports of a sample (n = 13) of Russian and foreign psychiatrists and clinical psychologists with psychotic experience was used as a part of a more extensive qualitative analysis of «wounded healers». RESULTS: In the history of > ½ (i.e., 7) ex-patients, repeated SPs (aborted suicides), as well as non-suicidal self-harm (e.g., self-cutting), were noted during the active period of the disease, and in four of them – during untreated psychosis. Following AFs can be distinguished in recovery state: clinical (absence of potentially suicidogenic residual depression or/and anxiety, according to criteria N.C. Andreasen et al. (2005) social (professional goals, coping with stigmatization), and existential (e.g., hope, gaining a whole Self ). CONCLUSIONS: AF is an important integral component of recovery in schizophrenia as a process of personality development despite a burden of severe mental disorders. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships.