Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Self-Immolation in Iran

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Suicide by Self-Immolation

Abstract

Self-immolation is one of the most common methods of suicide leading to death in Iran. Self-immolation occurs more often among women, especially those with low education or illiteracy, who are homemakers, and during the first 5 years of marriage. Psychological features of these individuals include the presence of impulsive behaviors, unexpressed or latent anger, affective state of hopelessness, and concomitant depressive and stressor related disorders. When these are coupled with inadequate coping skills and contextualized by societal disenfranchisement, hardship and deprivation, suicide by self-immolation could follow. Proximal stressors in women include family and marital conflicts that often result in domestic violence. In men, unemployment and states of intoxication are common proximal stressors. Culturally, sexism is an important predisposing factor. Idealization of self-immolation as a way to express distress and not perceiving or experiencing suicide as dreadful are also important culturally relevant precursors. Sociological factors play an important role in heightened risk for self-immolation. Regions of Iran with a low Human Development Index (HDI) have a higher prevalence of self-immolation suicides. In this chapter the authors review and discuss demographic characteristics, family features, precipitating stressors, psychological and psychiatric features, as well as conditions at the cultural and macro-societal level conducive to self-immolation in Iran.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Hajivandi A, Akbarizadeh FJM. Epidemiology of suicide in province of Bushehr in 2009. J Heal Syst Res. 2013;9(12):52–61.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pourhossein M, Mir Mohammdi SMAA. Evaluation of demography & methods of successful suicide in corpses referred to Sari Legal Medicine Center during 2009–2010. Iran J Forensic Med. 2016;21(3):199–205.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Havassi N, Khorshidi A, Khorshidi A, Jafari AHF. Evaluating the predictors of suicide deaths. J Maz Univ Med Sci. 2017;27(147):217–27.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ahmadi A, Mohammadi R, Stavrinos D, Almasi A, Schwebel DC. Self-immolation in Iran. J Burn Care Res. 2008;29(3):451–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. McDonald M. Young women in rural Uzbekistan seek escape by self-immolation. Knight Ridder Newspapers. 2004. http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_7020.shtml.

  6. Aziz N. What self-immolation means to Afghan women. Peace Rev A J Soc Justice. 2011;23(1):45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Amin PM, Mirlashari JNA. A cry for help and protest: self-immolation in young Kurdish Iraqi women-a qualitative study. Int J Commun Based Nurs Midwif. 2018;6(1):56–64.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Morovatdar N, Moradi-Lakeh M, Malakouti SK, Nojomi M. Most common methods of suicide in Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Suicide Res. 2013;17(4):335–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Dastgiri S, Kalankesh LR, Pourafkary N, Vahidi RG, Mahmoodzadeh F. Incidence, survival pattern and prognosis of self-immolation: a case study in Iran. J Public Health (Bangkok). 2006;14(1):2–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Panaghi L. Prevalence of self-inflicted burn and the related factors in Iran: a systematic review. Iran J Psychiatry. 2007;2(4):174–80.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Shaker J, Tatari F, Sadeghi K, Elahe Mohamadi KV. Suicide by self-immolation, a cross sectional study in Kermanshah-Iran. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2007;1(2):11–5. https://www.sid.ir/en/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=132502.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rostami M, Jalilian A, Rezaei-Zangeneh RSA. Factors associated with the choice of suicide method in Kermanshah Province. Iran Ann Saudi Med. 2016;36(1):7–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Parvareh M, Hajizadeh M, Rezaei S, Nouri B, Moradi G, Esmail NN. Epidemiology and socio-demographic risk factors of self-immolation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Burns. 2018;44(4):767–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2017.08.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mohammadi AA, Danesh N, Sabet B, Amini M, Jalaeian H. Self-inflicted burn injuries in southwest Iran. J Burn Care Res. 2008;29(5):778–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mehrpour O, Javadinia SA, Malic C, Dastgiri S, Ahmadi A. A survey of characteristics of self-immolation in the East of Iran. Acta Med Iran. 2012;50(5):328–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ahmadi A, Mohammadi R, Almasi A, Amini-Saman J, Sadeghi-Bazargani H, Bazargan-Hejazi S, et al. A case-control study of psychosocial risk and protective factors of self-immolation in Iran. Burns. 2015;41(2):386–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Dastgiri S, Kalankesh LR, Pourafkary N. Epidemiology of self-immolation in the North-West of Iran. Eur J Gen Med. 2005;2(1):14–9.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hosseini S, Yazdanpanah F, Ghannadzadegan H, Fazli M. Evaluation of Self-Immolation Suicide attempt in Sari City (north of Iran) between 2011 to 2014. Int J Med Investig. 2016;5(2):65–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ahmadi A, Mohammadi R, Schwebel DC, Yeganeh N, Hassanzadeh M, Bazargan-Hejazi S. Psychiatric disorders (Axis I and Axis II) and self-immolation: a case-control study from Iran. J Forensic Sci. 2010;55(2):447–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ghalambor A, Zarei J, Peypolzadeh M. Assessing individual and social characteristics as risk factors in self-immolation (in pesian). Jundishapur Sci Med J. 2010;4(16):95–102. https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=203045.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zarghami M, Khalilian A. Deliberate self-burning in Mazandaran. Iran Burns. 2002;28(2):115–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Farrokh-Eslamlou HR, Khorasani-Zavareh D, Oshnouei SMS. Epidemiology of burns injury among women in reproductive age in the West Azerbaijan Province of Iran: a three year case-study. Saf Promot Inj Prev. 2014;2(1):31–8.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Maghsoudi H, Samnia R, Garadaghi A, Kianvar H. Burns in pregnancy. Burns. 2006;32(2):246–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Fazli M. Demographic factors affecting the motivations of suicide by self-burnin (hospitalized in Burn Unit of Zare hospital Sari-Iran). Q J Educ Psychol. 2015;6(21):60–72.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Moradinazar M, Amini S, Baneshi M, Najafi F, Abbasi N, Ataee M. Survival probability in self immolation attempters: a prospective observational cohort study. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2016;22(1):23–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Malakouti SK, Taban M, Nojomi M, Eftekhar Ardebili M, Mohammadi Farsani H, Ghiasi Z, Khazaie H, Zarghami M, Karimi MAK. Comorbid psychiatric diagnosis in suicide attempters using self-immolation and self-poisoning: a case-control and multisite study. J Suicide Prev. 2019;1(1):25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Saadati M, Azami-Aghdash S, Heydari M, Derakhshani NRR. Self-Immolation in Iran: systematic review and meta-analysis. Bull Emerg Trauma. 2019;7(1):1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ahmadi A, Mohammadi R, Schwebel DC, Yeganeh N, Soroush A, Bazargan-Hejazi S. Familial risk factors for self-immolation: a case-control study. J Women’s Health. 2009;18(7):1025–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Safari-Faramani R, Khanjani N, Najafi F. Self-immolation causes and preventive strategies from the viewpoint of healthcare providers: a qualitative study. Sci J Sch Public Heal Inst Public Heal Res. 2014;12(3):37–51.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Veisani Y, Khazaei S. Inequality in self-immolation incidence according to HDI in Iran. Burns. 2018;44(3):726–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Yoosofilabani J, Mirzaei H. The study of factors affecting of self-burning among women. J Heal Syst Res. 2013;9(7):672–81.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Yoosefilebni J, Mansourian M, Hossain Taghdisi M, Khosravi B, Ziapour A, Demir Özdenk G. A study of Kurdish women’s tragic self-immolation in Iran: a qualitative study. Burns. 2019;45(7):1715–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2019.05.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Shakeri J, Mohamadi E, Valinia K, Hakim SM. Self-immolation in Kermanshah City, Iran; a serious suicide intention? Int Arch Heal Sci. 2016;3(3):139–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Azamiو Y, Yavariو A, Pournazari M. Social factors influencing the tendency of young women to self-immolation (Case study: cities Paveh & Javanrud). Q J Kermanshah Police Sci. 2014;1393:17–31.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ahmadi A. Suicide by self-immolation: comprehensive overview, experiences and suggestions. J Burn Care Res. 2007;28(1):30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Alaghehbandan R, Lari AR, Joghataei MT, Islami A, Motavalian A. A prospective population-based study of suicidal behavior by burns in the province of Ilam, Iran. Burns. 2011;37(1):164–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2010.04.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Rezaie L, Hosseini SA, Khankeh HR, Rassafiani M, Shakeri J, Khazaie H. Exploration of how culture influences on attempting suicide by self-immolation among women. Tehran Univ Med J TUMS Publ. 2016;73(11):832–5. http://tumj.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7197-en.html. Accessed 11 Feb 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Khankeh HR, Hosseini SA, Rezaie L, Shakeri J, Schwebel DC. A model to explain suicide by self-immolation among Iranian women: a grounded theory study. Burns. 2015;41(7):1562–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2015.03.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Rastegar Lari A, Alaghehbandan R. Epidemiological study of self-inflicted burns in Tehran. Iran J Burn Care Rehabil. 2003;24(1):15–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Karim H. What factors play a role in preventing self-immolation? Results from a case-control study in Iran. J Inj Violence Res. 2015;7(2):59–63.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Safiri K, Rezaienasab Z. A qualitative study of women self-immolation phenomenon in Ilam city (in Persian). Q J Woman Soc. 2016;7(1):123–41.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Taban M, Malakouti SK, Ranjbar H, Eftekhar Ardebili M, Motavalian SA, Zarghami M, et al. Making a symbolic gesture: a qualitative examination of self-immolation in Iran. Qual Quant. 2019;53(4):2117–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-019-00859-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Research Center, Department of Gerontology and Geriatric Psychiatry, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Kazem Malakouti

  2. Mental Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Hossein Jalali Nadushan

Authors
  1. Seyed Kazem Malakouti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amir Hossein Jalali Nadushan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seyed Kazem Malakouti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    César A. Alfonso

  2. Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bengaluru, India

    Prabha S. Chandra

  3. IPPG, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Thomas G. Schulze

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Malakouti, S.K., Nadushan, A.H.J. (2021). Self-Immolation in Iran. In: Alfonso, C.A., Chandra, P.S., Schulze, T.G. (eds) Suicide by Self-Immolation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62613-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62613-6_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-62612-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-62613-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation