The social network of people who attempt suicide

Social characteristics and self-rating of social support by means of the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction were investigated in 75 inpatients after a suicide attempt. We found that very few suicide attempters (13%) had a well functioning relationship, and two-thirds had problems in their occupational situation. Divorced patients had unsatisfactory social interaction compared with those who were married or cohabiting and with those who were single or widowed. Employees and students more often had deep emotional relations than those who were unemployed or in vocational rehabilitation. The latter were also less satisfied with their social interaction than those who were retired or had a disability pension. Poor social interaction was more commonly reported by patients with dysthymia than by those in other diagnostic subgroups. We conclude that an evaluation of the social network should be an integral part of the clinical handling of suicide attempters, since it forms a basis for planning psychiatric treatment.