A clinical model for differentiating suicidality: a conceptual comparison

Background Numerous attempts have been made to classify suicidality, yet most typologies remain largely theoretical and lack clinical application. In response, a clinically evaluated suicidality differentiation model was introduced comprising four subtypes: perceptual disintegration, primary depressive cognition, psychosocial turmoil and inadequate coping. While promising, the model remains exploratory and requires further refinement. In this paper, the model is conceptually compared with several seminal typologies examining convergences, divergences and opportunities for further development. Methods The seminal typologies for conceptual comparison were drawn from an existing literature review. The conceptual comparison comprised three steps: identifying components of each typology through content analysis, defining these components through conceptual mapping and comparing the definitions through deliberative synthesis. Results Perceptual disintegration may show conceptual overlap with a wish to die; depressive, alienation, avoidance and modelling behaviours; classifications as death seekers or death ignorers; and intentional, symptomatic, adaptational, escapist, oblative, egotic, ageneratic and egoistic suicide. Primary depressive cognition may show conceptual overlap with a wish to die; depressive, avoidance and modelling behaviours; classifications as death seekers or death initiators; and intentional, symptomatic, adaptational, escapist, oblative, egotic, altruistic and fatalistic suicide. Psychosocial turmoil may show conceptual overlap with a wish to be killed; modelling and avoidance behaviours; classifications as death darers; and semi-intentional, adaptational, satisfied-symbiotic, unaccepting and anomic suicide. Inadequate coping may show conceptual overlap with a wish to kill; extrapunative, operant and modelling behaviours; classifications as death darers; and semi-intentional, communicative, adaptational, aggressive, dependent-dissatisfied and dyadic suicide. Conclusion The model shares similarities with seminal typologies but also differences, especially with Leonard and Shneidman’s typologies, missing aspects like formative developmental dynamics, corporeal-psychological interplay and metaphysical perspectives.