NCJ Number
17059
Date Published
1973
Length
51 pages
Annotation
CONFIRMS THE HYPOTHESIS OF TRIPLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION, PSYCHOMOTOR BEHAVIOR AND RECORD OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Abstract
USING PSYCHIATRIC TESTING AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION, 97 YOUNG MEN IN THE BORSTAL INSTITUTION WERE CLASSIFIED IN THE CATEGORIES OF DEPRESSION, PSYCHOSIS, BRAIN DAMAGE, AND PSYCHOPATHIC TRAITS. PSYCHOMOTOR TESTING WAS ALSO ADMINISTERED TO THE SAME SAMPLE. DEPRESSION WAS FOUND TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SLOW AND RELATIVELY PRECISE PSYCHOMOTOR BEHAVIOR. APPROXIMATELY HALF THE BORSTAL SAMPLE WERE DIAGNOSED AS EXHIBITING PSYCHOPATHIC TRAITS. ON THE PSYCHOMOTOR TESTS, THESE MEN TENDED TO RESPOND WITH OVEREXTENSIVE AND RELATIVELY RAPID MOVEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE SAMPLE HAD A RECORD OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, AND ABOUT HALF THESE WERE DIAGNOSED PSYCHOPATHIC. THE MEN WITH SUICIDAL RECORD TENDED TO MAKE LESS EXTENSIVE AND SLOWER PSYCHOMOTOR RESPONSES THAN THE OTHERS, BOTH IN THE SAMPLE AS A WHOLE AND WHEN THE PSYCHOPATHS WERE STUDIED SEPARATELY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY YOUNG MEN INDICATES AN ACCOMPANYING DEPRESSIVE TENDENCY WHICH MAY BE OVERLOOKED.