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Manipulative suicide

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But once born, the best man can do is to lie having heaped earth over himself and pass as soon as he may through the gates of HadesTheognis of Megara Circa 550 B.C.

Summary

Preliminary observations on patients who made manipulative suicide attempts are presented in this paper. The term “manipulative suicide” is defined, and four types of this form of suicide are distinguished. Cases are presented briefly, with descriptions of each type. Criteria for classifying manipulative suicide patients are outlined. Emphasis is placed on the early referral of all such patients by their family doctor, internist, or surgeon to the psychiatrist for psychiatric evaluation. Measures to prevent future attempts at suicide are discussed in some detail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, 02114, Boston, Mass.

    Peter E. Sifneos M.D.

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, Mass.

    Peter E. Sifneos M.D.

Authors
  1. Peter E. Sifneos M.D.
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From the Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.

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Sifneos, P.E. Manipulative suicide. Psych Quar 40, 525–537 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01562779

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01562779

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