Suicidal attempts: clinical characteristics from the position of suicidal process

Suicide attempt is a common form of deviant behavior in the population that is associated with a high risk of death due to implementation of various self-harm methods. Despite this, in clinical practice, there are often difficulties in qualifying and diagnosing suicidal behavior and suicidal attempts, which can negatively affect the quality of care and suicide prevention. In this regard, the study of the characteristics of individual manifestations and possible patterns of development of suicidal attempts is of great importance. This article discusses the clinical characteristics of true suicidal attempts, from their transition from suicidal intent to the final suicide act. With the aim to provide maximum clarity and deeper understanding of the suicidal process, individual elements and forms of attempts, the authors propose an original approach with the allocation of individual periods in the dynamics of a suicidal attempt (a, b, c, d, e), the duration and qualitative characteristics of each of which are closely related with certain types of attempts. From these positions, detailed clinical descriptions of stopped, interrupted and other forms of suicidal attempts are given, each of which is illustrated with authors' own clinical practice observations. Clinical and dynamic signs for differential diagnosis and reasonable diagnosis of a suicide attempt and their individual forms are presented. In conclusion, authors suggest that the proposed approach with clearer clinical characteristics of individual stages of suicidokinesis of attempts and differentiation from other forms can be used to increase the efficiency of work with a suicidal contingent at the stages of diagnosis, corrective and preventive work.