«Suicidology» №1 – 2025
Lyubov E.B., Zotov P.B. Suicidological terminology in scientific research and clinical practice. What does the name mean. Part II. Suicide attempt. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 3-16. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-3-16
The lack of agreed terminology has hampered daily practice and clinical-epidemiological research in suicidology for decades. The development of classifications is preceded by agreement on definitions and terms of suicidal behavior. The second part of the review of the subject field (scoping review) points out the imprecision and ambiguity of the working criteria for a suicide attempt within the framework of intentional self-harming behavior. Reaching agreement is complicated by differences in suicidal intent, heterogeneity of motives and outcomes of attempts.
Keywords: intentional self-harm, suicide attempt, terminology
Filonenko A.V., Golenkov A.V., Kozlov V.A., Sergueeva A.I. "Dark tetrad" of personality traits as an external factor of suicidal behavior. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 17-40. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-17-40
Biological, psychological, clinical, social and environmental factors contribute to suicidal behavior. Repeated exposure to psychosocial stressors plays a significant role. Concern about mental health and suicide risk is caused by a high level of sadism. Sadism includes elements of receiving pleasure from the suffering of others, causing pain and humiliation, and is a significant predictor of aggression. It negatively correlates with compliance, fairness, humility, conscientiousness, emotionality and openness. Sadistic personalities lack honesty, tenderness, discipline, kindness and social activity. All the features of the previously formulated concept of the "Dark Triad" are associated with increased dispositional sadism. Consideration of issues requiring the development of perspectives and methods of treatment taking into account the sadistic focus in solving the problem of suicide is very relevant and comes as a result of the lack of research analyzing the relationship between the darkest personality traits and the suffering of individuals who have been bullied. The aim of the review is to summarize the currently established facts of the relationship between the presence of Dark Tetrad traits in a sadist personality and the outcomes of this form of behavior for the sadist and his victim, as well as to provide information on ways to prevent bullying. Material and methods. A review of domestic and foreign literature describing the risk factors of sadism was conducted. Results. One of the factors in the development of violence is psychological trauma caused by abuse in childhood, unpleasant previous social contacts, leading to paranoid processes of thinking and cognition, paranoid arousal, fear, anxiety and a sense of possible danger, bad mood and discomfort. Aggressive personalities often enter into interpersonal conflicts in social situations. Characteristics of antagonistic personalities include manipulativeness, callousness, unwillingness to be friendly and deceitfulness. Sadism predicts violence among young people and is associated with antisocial traits and behavior in older age. Suffering from bullying negatively impacts the physical, mental, and socio-emotional health and well-being of those who are bullied. Consequences range from symptoms of depression and anxiety to behavioral disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior. Prevention is key to reducing the number of deaths from suicide due to sadism. It includes universal, selective, and indicative interventions, and is often implemented in combination. Interventions in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, caring contacts, safety planning, and pharmacological treatments, as well as coordinated social and health initiatives, improve the treatment of individuals at risk for suicide. Innovative prevention methods include parental involvement in the prevention of sadism, the use of the Bullying Intervention Program, and metaphorical suggestion of sadism in patients with the Dark Tetrad. Conclusion. Signs of sadistic and suicidal behavior are present in individuals with the Dark Tetrad and remain an issue of great social significance. Further research is needed into predictors and treatments. Identifying sadism that influences the opponent's suicidality is important for developing effective suicide prevention plans. Victims of bullying need strong and supportive leadership to protect them from bullies with exploitative and manipulative personality profiles.
Keywords: sadism, dark tetrad, bullying, suicidal behavior, suicide risk
Perezhogina G.V., Sidorova N.V., Tolstoluzhinskaya E.M., Khabarova E.A. Forms of criminal involvement in suicide: a comparative approach. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 41-55. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-41-55
The study is devoted to a comparative legal analysis of the norms of criminal legislation of Russia and foreign countries on liability for forms of criminal involvement in suicide on a number of key points: on the specifics of legislative regulation of liability for criminal involvement in suicide; on the allocation of independent elements of a crime for different forms of criminal involvement in suicide (incitement, inducement, assistance, counseling aimed at inciting to commit suicide), characteristics of methods of criminal involvement in suicide. The aim of the study is to identify positive experiences in constructing criminal-legal prohibitions on various methods of incitement to suicide, inducement and assistance to it in the legislation of the Russian Federation and foreign countries. The materials for the study were codified regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation and foreign countries of different continents (Asia, Africa, Europe, South America), containing criminal law norms on criminal liability for various forms of criminal involvement in suicide; texts of court decisions in foreign countries; positions of legal scholars devoted to criminal involvement in suicide. General scientific (dialectical, analysis, synthesis) and specific scientific (comparative legal, legal-dogmatic and systemic-structural) methods were used as research methods , which made it possible to obtain substantiated results. Results. Criminal involvement in suicide is a general concept consisting of three main forms: incitement to suicide, incitement to suicide, assistance to suicide. An analysis of the national legal systems of 34 countries (with a sample across all continents) showed that 39.4% of the national legal systems we studied do not provide for criminal liability for incitement to suicide, but do provide for punishment for other forms of involvement in suicide. Criminal liability for incitement to suicide is provided for, but is combined into one norm with other forms of criminal involvement in suicide – in 24.3% of cases. In 15.1% of states, criminal legislation provides for criminal liability only for incitement to suicide. All forms of criminal involvement in suicide as independent elements of crime are established in 12.1% of the studied states. In 9.1% there is no indication of criminal liability for criminal involvement in suicide.
Keywords: forms of criminal involvement in suicide, criminal suicide, crime, incitement to suicide, incitement to suicide, assistance to suicide
Rameez Ali Mahesar, Ghazala Shoukat, Arifa Saeed, Muhammad Aftab Madni, Erum Hafeez, Sujita Kumar Kar. A 77-year-long suicide research in Pakistan: A bibliometric analysis. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 56-68. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-56-68
Aims: This bibliometric analysis study evaluates suicide-related studies published in Pakistan since it has become independent (August 1947 to August 2024). Method: We searched the Scopus database to identify suicide-related studies to understand the trends of suicide research in Pakistan by using Scopus and word-cloud analyzers. Results: Out of 211 suicide-related studies, the topic was most often analyzed by Murad Moosa Khan, an author of many outstanding articles. The highest number of suicide documents have been published by the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association and the highest number of publications have been made by Agha Khan University. The most articles dedicated to suicide and related topics were published in 2021. Suicide research was highly contributed by medical institutions. The countries that collaborated the most with Pakistan in suicide research were the US, UK, and India. The National Institute of Health and UK Research and Innovation agencies funded the maximum number of suicide-related research. Conclusion: A significant progress in suicide-related research occurred in Pakistan over the past two decades. Still, there is a significant lack of funded and international collaborative research in the country.
Keywords: suicide, suicidal behavior, suicide research, bibliometric analysis, Pakistan
Orlov FV, Golenkov AV, Kozlov VA. Clinical and biological predictors of efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in suicidal behavior in patients with mental disorders. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 69-96. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-69-96
The review article discusses the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for mentally ill patients with suicidal behavior. It describes the main electrophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic effects (antidepressant, antimanic, antipsychotic, etc.) of ECT, its safety and efficacy, clinical predictors in various mental disorders (affective/depressive disorders, substance abuse disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, etc.). The rapid, but often relatively short-term effect of ECT on suicidal behavior is confirmed. Therefore, supporting ECT that is usually carried out in semi-inpatient (outpatient) conditions can help many patients with conditions resistant to psychopharmacotherapy and persistent suicidal behavior. ECT is still a rarely used method of treating and preventing suicidal behavior, especially in Russia. Integration of clinical and biological markers. The integration of the efficacy of ECT in suicidal behavior into a specific treatment algorithm may facilitate the development of a personalized therapeutic approach to the use of ECT. This will allow the identification of subgroups of individuals who are likely to respond to ECT. And the use of maintenance ECT, taking into account predictors of efficacy in treatment-resistant patients with high-risk mental disorders, opens up new prospects for the prevention of suicidal behavior.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, mental disorders, ECT, safety, efficacy, clinical predictors, biological determinants
Rozanov V.A., Shaboltas A.V. University suicide prevention programs and initiatives – which way to choose? Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 97-121. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-97-121
Suicides among university students are quite common and typical for many countries of the world, including Russia. According to many sources, undergraduate and post-graduate students are characterized by a high risk of suicidal behavior, which is associated with a high stress load and difficulties in adapting to a new stage of life, new challenges, higher level of responsibility. In this respect, students may be seen as a specific group, although sometimes there are analogies with suicides in the school environment, especially in the first years of higher education. At the same time, prevention programs and strategies implemented in higher education institutions are not so detailed and are less represented in the scientific literature. Methodology. Scientific publications for this narrative review were searched using various Russian-language and international resources (Cyberleninka, eLibrary, PubMed). Results. While foreign sources discuss mainly the effectiveness of evidence-based programs and strategies (awareness raising, trainings for gatekeepers and decision-makers, psychotherapeutic techniques), while domestic literature mostly presents various internal university initiatives that can be considered as examples of a “good practice”. Foreign meta-analyses note that standardized programs demonstrate effectiveness regarding intermediate results (knowledge enhancement, awareness of suicide and mental health issues) as well in reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, deviant behaviours and other psychological risk factors, but there is no convincing evidence that this leads to a decrease in the prevalence of suicides or suicide attempts among students. Existing programs and initiatives in the Russian universities reflect a general understanding of the different levels of prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary), but often with inconsistent “author’s interpretation” how to fill these prevention levels with specific actions. Russian universities also use practical technologies and programs that have been tested abroad, as well as independently developed organizational measures aimed at students themselves, psychological support services and university administration. Conclusions. Student suicides are much more numerous than adolescent suicides, but receive disproportionately little attention from researchers, practitioners and educational institutions administration. The implementation of various initiatives and practices within universities should take into account a need of balance between educational programs and information campaigns providing knowledge about the problem of suicide, and recommendations of positive actions aimed at improving the overall psychological well-being and adaptability of students. In our opinion, a comprehensive study of protective factors and antisuicidal barriers inherent to modern students is a promising area of research augmenting risk assessment, and potentially can lead to the development of more valid and comprehensive recommendations for university psychological services, as well as for university administrations.
Keywords: suicide, university students, preventive measures, programs and initiatives, international and local experience
Lyubov E.B. Female suicidology in fiction samples. Part IV: the suicidal process. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 122-145. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-122-145
Based on works of art (mostly prose of the 19th-20th centuries), typical stages of the suicidal process are identified as a dynamic balance of suicidogenic and protective factors in the coordinates of "life – death", cultural-historical and philosophical contexts with clarification of the aesthetic relations of art and reality. Social analysis of suicide is based on examples of "physiology", an internal picture and characteristics that predict death and recovery (resurrection).
Keywords: story, women, suicidal behavior
Simutkin G.G., Vasileva S.N., Smirnova N.S., Surovtseva A.K., Bokhan N.A. Suicidal risk in bipolar affective disorder taking into account its comorbidity with alcohol addiction. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 146-156. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-146-156
High risk of suicide in people with bipolar affective disorder and alcohol addiction has been demonstrated in numerous studies. Comorbid course of these disorders further increases the vulnerability of patients to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Aim: to study the effect of comorbid alcohol addiction on the risk of suicidal behavior in patients with bipolar affective disorder. Material and methods. Two groups of patients were examined in a psychiatric hospital with subsequent comparison. The group of patients with bipolar affective disorder and comorbid alcohol addiction – 43 people aged 35 [24.0; 45.0] and the group of patients with bipolar affective disorder without comorbid alcohol addiction – 60 people aged 38 [24.0; 51.0]. The groups were comparable in age and gender (p> 0.05). Research methods: clinical-psychopathological, clinical-follow-up, psychometric, statistical. Various aspects of suicidal behavior in patients of the examined groups were assessed using the SBQ-R suicidal behavior questionnaire. The level of social functioning and quality of life of patients was determined using the SASS questionnaire. Results. In patients with comorbid bipolar affective disorder and alcohol dependence, compared with "isolated" bipolar affective disorder, a more frequent occurrence of suicide attempts in the anamnesis (44.2% versus 25.0%) and higher scores of the SBQ-R scale (13 [10; 14] and 7 [4; 9], respectively) (p<0.05) were revealed. Correlation analysis of the relationship SBQ-R scores with clinical and dynamic indicators of bipolar affective disorder and demographic characteristics showed: in both groups, the risk of suicidal behavior decreases with increasing age of patients (p<0.05), with "isolated" bipolar affective disorder, more unfavorable SBQ-R scores are associated with male gender, shorter duration of affective disorder and younger age at onset of bipolar affective disorder (p<0.05). Similar correlations were not revealed in the group of bipolar affective disorder with comorbid alcohol addiction. Evaluation of the relationships between the SASS and SBQ-R scales showed that in both study groups, the severity of suicidal behavior scores correlates with difficulties arising in relationships with other people. Conclusions. Patients with comorbid bipolar affective disorder and alcohol addiction show more severe rates of suicidal behavior compared to patients with "isolated" bipolar affective disorder.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, bipolar affective disorder, comorbidity, alcohol addiction, clinical and dynamic characteristics, social adaptation
Klepikova N.M., Gurina E.S. Trends of the socio-cultural environment as a factor of vitality disorder and the risk of formation of suicidal behavior in modern children and adolescents. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 157-176. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus. 25-16-01(58)-157-176
Currently, the problem of suicide among children and adolescents remains relevant, which requires from specialists and parents competence in both identifying and reducing suicide risk factors and in building up such a personal resource as resilience. Resilience is considered as an anti-suicide factor, but is often confused with such terms as stress resistance and frustration tolerance. The aim of the article is to study resilience and analyze modern socio-cultural trends that mediate its formation. Material and methods: to clarify the very concept of "resilient" and identify current trends that negatively affect the formation of resilience, the authors of the article use the method of a systematic review, the search for material for which was carried out by keywords in domestic and foreign databases elibrary.ru, WoS, Scopus. Results: By introducing differential criteria that distinguish resilience from other similar concepts, the authors propose to understand resilience as an existentially conditioned attitude of the subject to life, consisting of involvement, the ability to make decisions and readiness for risk. The work emphasizes that one of the conditions for the formation of resilience in children and adolescents in modern socio-cultural conditions is parental competence. In the article, such trends of the socio-cultural environment as digitalization of space, instability and uncertainty, existential vacuum, emphasis on child-centeredness, loss of initiations are considered as factors of resilience violation and the risk of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. The identified trends represent conditions under which the level of depressive and anxiety states increases, communication and adaptation skills suffer, life-meaning reflection is lost, infantilization increases, and other factors of suicide risk increase. In conclusion, the authors note the importance of creating conditions in the children's microenvironment that would contribute to increasing their resilience. According to the authors, the necessary vectors are: preserving the experience of "live" (not virtual) relationships; maintaining a sense of stability and certainty in micro-groups as opposed to the general unpredictability of the world; creating spiritual, semantic and value coordinates; organizing an environment that stimulates children's social activity and independence; organizing various variations of initiating practices that contribute to the interiorization of new social statuses and roles.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, suicide risk factors, resilience, stress resistance, frustration tolerance, adolescents, parental competence, responsible parenting
Merinov A.V., Stenina E.A., Rogacheva A.S. Clinical and suicidological characteristics of individuals hospitalized as a result of suicide attempts or suicidal intentions. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 177-192. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-177-192
The problem of suicide is the most serious challenge to modern humanity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 720,000 people commit suicide every year. Many people who have attempted suicide suffer from various forms of mental disorders. The aim of the study: to analyze the prevalence of suicide attempts and suicidal intentions (suicidal thoughts with consideration of the method of committing suicide) as the main reason for hospitalization in the acute male and female departments of a regional psychiatric hospital, to determine significant differences in the clinical and suicidological characteristics of males and females. Materials and methods: To solve the objectives of the study, 1016 medical records of patients admitted to the male (640 people) and female (376 people) clinical departments were analyzed. According to the developed selection criteria, 33 people were included in the study (admitted in 2023-24): 12 were hospitalized due to the presence of suicidal intentions (4 men and 8 women); 21 – after a suicide attempt (7 men and 14 women). The patients age ranged from 15 to 63. Statistical analysis of the results and data processing were carried out using the nonparametric method of mathematical statistics using c2 Pearson based on the SPSS program. Results: it was revealed that women are almost three times more likely to be hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital due to the presence of indicated suicidal intentions. Over the entire period (two full calendar years, of the total number of admissions), 1.09% of men were hospitalized with suicide attempts, 0.63% with suicidal intent; in the female group, the corresponding values were 3.72% and 1.86%. When analyzing age characteristics, the majority of hospitalized patients were 15-23 years old, both in the male and female groups. The leading pathology in women was that of the affective spectrum (primary depressive episodes, recurrent and bipolar affective disorder); in men – F2 "Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders" and F6 "mature personality and behavioral disorders in adults". 80% of respondents from the female group had previously consulted psychiatrists, 46% had undergone inpatient treatment, less than 50% of men had such experience, 28% had been treated in hospital before. The method of suicide attempt in women in 50% of cases is poisoning, in men – self-cutting (42.8%). Conclusions: despite the widespread prevalence of suicidal tendencies in literally all diagnostic psychiatric clusters and the significant prevalence of mental illnesses in modern society in general, a minimal number of patients who have attempted suicide or have serious suicidal intentions are hospitalized in psychiatric departments of hospitals. Many hospitalizations are "accidental" – survivors of attempts made using highly fatal methods of injury (falling from a height, self-hanging). Presumably, unfortunately, a significant part of them ends in death. The hospital psychiatry deals with the results of suicide attempts carried out by less lethal means (self-cutting, self-poisoning), carried out mainly at the height of affective experiences or affective-shock reactions, often with the absence of a true desire to achieve a fatal outcome.
Keywords: suicide, psychiatric disorder
Zotov P.B., Markov A.A., Suldin A.M., Umansky M.S., Dolgova I.G., Furin V.A., Sergejchik O.I. Suicidal mortality in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district (West Siberia): risk factors and prevention strategies. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 193-219. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-193-219
The suicide rate is an integral indicator that largely reflects the social and economic well-being of the territory. For individual regions, geoclimatic factors can also be of great importance, often determining the formation of special lifestyles, work and rest regimes, requirements for economic forms and many other categories that can often potentiate the development of emotional disorders, alcohol abuse, and the formation of suicidal behavior. The aim of the study was to assess the key socio-economic, medical and other indicators of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District (West Siberia) in association with the suicide mortality rate, and to develop suicide prevention strategies. Material and methods. Federal statistics data on individual socio-economic, medical and other indicators of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in 2010 and 2023 were used. Results. In recent years, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District has demonstrated positive dynamics in many socio-economic indicators and is among the leading regions in the Russian Federation. However, suicide mortality rates exceed the national average (in 2023, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District – 12.4, in Russia – 7.8 per 100,000 population), with a recorded slowdown in the decline in recent years. Suicide risk factors may include family dysfunction with a higher divorce rate (in 2023, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District – 795, in the Russian Federation – 723 per 1,000 marriages), excess alcohol consumption (in 2023, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District – 9.7, in the Russian Federation – 8.6 liters of ethanol per capita), deficiencies in the organization of leisure time for the population, and housing conditions. These issues require study, analysis and solutions. Research that studies the influence of environmental factors, including those caused by weather, geoclimatic changes, solar activity, daylight hours and others, available for registration in various population groups of a given territory, may be promising. Conclusions. To improve the situation and solve the problem, multilateral coordinated work of the regional health care system, social services, improvement of methods of work in the economic, social sphere and youth policy is required. The region needs to develop a territorial prevention program with the involvement of all interested departments and funds.
Keywords: suicide, suicide mortality, risk factors, suicide prevention, Far North, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, West Siberia, Russia
«Suicidology» №2 – 2025
Filonenko AV, Kozlov VA, Sergeeva AI, Golenkov AV. Identifying suicide risk in patients of the medical institutions. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 3-22. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-3-22
Suicidal behavior is a serious public and medical problem that should be given priority attention in all areas of medicine. The relevance is due to the fact that population mental health check ups during general medical examination can be used to control suicidal risk and motivate change in unhealthy behavior. The aim of the work is to generalize the methods of suicide risk detection, to consider the reliability and validity of screening tools that can be used in medical institutions for rapid assessment of intent during a general medical examination. Methods. Search and analysis of domestic and foreign literature on the problem. Results. The reliability and validity of preventive screening tools for suicidal intent in medical institutions based on the factors of depression and hopelessness are considered and confirmed. One of the ways to prevent suicide is to train primary care physicians and health workers in methods of identifying individuals at risk, diagnosing and stopping a developing crisis, limiting access to means of suicide with the provision of subsequent support. The presented review focuses on the need for screening inpatients with "dormant" suicidality, the emotional content of messages in social networks to prevent intent and improve mental health. Conclusion. Screening for hidden suicidal tendencies with subsequent provision of emergency care can potentially prevent suicide, especially in the elderly. Suicidality corresponds to the general level of seeking medical help, therefore there is a need for diagnostic and suicide prevention tools for people undergoing treatment in somatic hospitals who are unlikely to seek outpatient or specialized psychiatric help.
Keywords: suicide prevention, preventive screening, hematological criteria, screening scales, emotional analysis, social networks
Mateykovich M.S., Mateykovich E.A., Sakharov S.P., Polyakova V.A., Suldin A.M., Shumeiko E.A., Kaurova M.F. Drive to suicide: features of psychotraumatic impact, formation and realization of suicidal intention. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 23-39. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-23-39
Intentional deprivation of one's own life, or suicide, is an act condemned by morality and clearly not encouraged by the state and society. The reasons for suicide vary, but all world religions unequivocally condemn suicide, believing that no motives can justify this deeply immoral, ungodly act. At the same time, persons who have exerted mental and physical coercion to suicide, in other words, who have driven someone to suicide, are condemned not only by morality, but also bear criminal liability as having committed a crime against life. In Russia, driving to suicide has been criminalized since 1845, and remained so for almost the entire Soviet period. The reasons for suicide vary. The determinants of suicidal behavior include biological (genetic), clinical (mental illness), and personality-psychological (low stress resistance, maximalism, impulsiveness, etc.) factors. The role of external factors has been little studied. The article analyzes the most typical cases that formed the basis of criminal cases on incitement to suicide, and subsequently - court sentences. The aim of the study is to study the suicidal characteristics of victims of crimes provided for in Article 110 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Incitement to Suicide". Materials and methods: the study examined 15 court decisions posted in open official sources (State Automated System "Justice"), which allow analyzing the mental state of the victim, personal data, and the characteristics of the traumatic, physical impact classified as incitement to suicide based on the expert opinions contained therein. The decisions were selected by random sampling. The victim's medical history was collected based on the information provided in the expert opinions of the experts who conducted the forensic psychological and psychiatric examination. Statistical processing of the material on the criminal record under Article 110 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation was performed using the SPSS program. Results and discussion. According to the Judicial Department under the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, sentences for incitement to suicide are generally isolated across the country and are significantly inferior in number to other crimes against life and health. The main cases of incitement to suicide are related to domestic violence committed against a clearly weaker subject: a woman, a child, an elderly person. In addition, there is suicidal behavior of victims of acquisitive crimes (extortion, fraud), subordinates due to the degrading actions of the management. A psychotraumatic situation in the family, at work (service) is long-term, systemic. Suicidal behavior in this situation is considered by the victim as the only way to resolve it and stop suffering. It also aims to draw attention to the actions of the person guilty of the suffering of the victim, sometimes - retribution for the suffering caused. In victims of acquisitive crimes, on the contrary, the stressful situation arises spontaneously. Conclusions. Long-term or short-term, but extremely intense psychotraumatic impact is the main trigger for a suicidal decision made as a result of criminal incitement to suicide. In general, a detailed study of the pathogenesis of suicidal behavior caused by violence and abuse is hampered by the latent (secret) nature of such actions, which allows those guilty of driving someone to suicide to avoid criminal liability, despite the grave consequences of their actions.
Keywords: suicide, incitement to suicide, psychotraumatic impact, violence, humiliation of human dignity, mental disorder
Trabelsi F, Merinov AV, Nagibina SV, Fedotov IA. Psychosocial determinants of suicidal behaviour of female patients with borderline personality disorder and borderline personality accentuation. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 40-53. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-40-53
Borderline type of emotionally unstable personality disorder (borderline personality disorder, BPD) is a topical issue, including due to the high incidence of autoaggressive behavior. Subclinical forms of BPD in the form of borderline accentuation of character (BAC) are studied separately. In the conceptual integrative model of suicidal behavior by B.S. Polozhego, all factors of a specific "diathesis" are divided into determinants of three ranks, while the determinants of autoaggressive behavior in these conditions are poorly described. The aim of this study is to identify significant psychosocial determinants (independent risk factors) of suicidal behavior in women with BPD and BAC. Materials and methods. The work is a continuous prospective cohort analytical study. A total of 115 women who were inpatients at the State Budgetary Institution of the Rostov Region Regional Clinical Psychiatric Hospital and the State Budgetary Institution of the Rostov Region Regional Clinical Narcological Dispenser from October 2023 to March 2025 and had BPD personality traits were included. Based on the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Personality Disorder, they were divided into a group of “BPD Patients” (n=49, mean age 28.4 [25.7; 31.1] years) and “BAC Patients” (n=60, mean age 25.6 [23.3; 27.9] years). The dependent variable reflecting the severity of autoaggressive potential was the Pro-suicidal Tension Index (PSTI), and independent risk factors (determinants) were assessed using the data of the clinical and social questionnaire, the Personality Questionnaire for DSM-5, the Suicide Risk Questionnaire, the Brief Version of the Attitudes to Death Questionnaire, the Brief Version of the Fear of Personal Death Questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), the Standardized Multifactorial Method of Personality Research (MINI-SMIL), and the Symptomatic Questionnaire SCL-90-R. Statistical analysis of the data was performed in the free system of statistical data processing and programming R. Correlation analysis and construction of multiple regression models were performed. Results and discussion. The groups of BPD and BAC patients did not have statistically significant differences in mean age and the presence of comorbid mental disorders. The average level of the PSTI in the BPD group was 1.29 [1.06; 1.37] points, which is statistically significantly higher than the average PSTI in the BAC group: 0.86 [0.58; 1.07] points. Statistically significant positive correlations of the PSTI with the levels of anxiety and depression, disturbances of time perspective and failure as causes of AA behavior, increased negative affect, as well as with scales associated with anxiety, depression and sensitivity in both groups were revealed. At the same time, in patients with BAC, in contrast to the BPD group, significant negative correlations were found between the PSTI and the anti-suicidal factor of OSN, consequences for the personality and for the body when assessing the fear of personal death, avoidance strategy when assessing the attitude towards death, as well as with scales of positive affect. In the obtained regression model for patients with BAC, there was only one significant factor – the level of depression (OR=1.44), and in the group of patients with BPD, three dependent variables with positive coefficients were revealed – the number of suicide attempts (OR=1.05), self-control disorders (OR=1.02) and emotional lability (OR=1.1), and one variable with a negative coefficient – hypomania (OR = 0.89). Conclusions. The main psychosocial determinant of suicidal behavior in patients with BAC is the level of depression. In patients with BPD, the pro- suicidal determinants are the number of suicide attempts in the past, self-control disorders and emotional lability, the anti-suicidal determinant is hypomania.
Keywords: personality disorder, character accentuation, borderline personality disorder, suicide attempts, suicide, autoaggression, suicidology
Laskaja DA, Rozanov VA. Peculiarities of intra-family communications among the student population as a psycho-emotional predictor of pro- and anti-suicidality. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (1): 54-71. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-01(58)-54-71
Rationale. The problem of suicides among students remains topical. The peculiarities of family environment and styles of family emotional communications associated with verified high suicidal risk in students from higher educational institutions of Russia are studied insufficiently. The aim is to study the peculiarities of child-parent relations in the context of suicide risk. Methods. An online survey of 441 Russian university students was conducted. The severity of suicidal risk was assessed using the SBQ-R questionnaire (A. Osman). The main group of students with high suicide risk (MG, n=73) and the comparison group balanced by socio-demographic indicators (CG, n=87) were formed from the total sample. Students answered a number of questions developed by the authors that made it possible to reveal subjective assessments of their relationships with their parents. Family dysfunctions were assessed using the “Styles of Emotional Communication in the Family” technique (SEC, A.B. Kholmogorova, S.V. Volikova). The groups were compared using the Pearson χ2 and the Mann-Whitney U-criterion. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the severity of suicidal risk and the peculiarities of family communications. Results. The share of students with any signs of suicidal risk (≥ 7 points according to Osman's methodology) in the total sample was 62%, the share of students with very high risk was 16,55%. According to the results of subjective assessments, among the students of the MG there was a multiple (2-3 times) excess of the share of those who assessed their relations with parents as conflictual, distrustful, lacking mutual understanding and support, excessively demanding, ignoring their own initiatives. Students from both groups reported quite often that they were afraid of not meeting their parents' expectations, but students from the MG indicated this almost twice as often (60,27% vs. 35,63%). In contrast, CG students were 2-3 times more likely to report that they were completely satisfied with their emotional connections with their parents, that the relationship between them was trusting, that their parents were involved in their lives, and that they could count on their support (80,46% in HS vs. 28,77% in CG). According to the SEC scale, in the families of students from the MG a high general level of family dysfunction is detected significantly more often. mainly in the form of parental criticism, avoidance of expressing emotions, maintenance of external well-being, provoking destructive perfectionism and negative emotional response. According to the data of correlation analysis, the level of suicidal risk is most strongly and significantly associated with the same indicators in the MG.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, student suicides, family factor, suicide risk factors, protective factors
Lyubov EB. Loneliness and suicidal behavior: historical aspect and definitions. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 22-94. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-72-94
Loneliness (hereinafter referred to as L) in the models of suicidal behavior (SB) is not directly included in the extensive (expanding) set of risk factors. However, L. represents a serious clinical, social and spiritual problem in a wide age range, entailing an increased risk of distress, mental disorders (such as depression), L., physical illnesses, and therefore attracts growing interest in public health throughout the world. Within the framework of the cognitive-communicative paradigm of knowledge with the categories of "concept" and "discourse", the review examines the multidimensional phenomenon of L. in philosophical, psychological, clinical, linguistic and lexicographic aspects. The definitions and typology of L. are clarified, the socio-clinical and economic consequences of L. and ways to alleviate its burden at the individual and societal levels are shown.
Keywords: loneliness, suicidal behavior, mental disorders (depression)
Igumnov SA, Karpievich VA. Relationships between young people’s experience of loneliness and digital addictions, stress, and emotional intelligence. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 95-105. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-95-105
The aim of the article is to identify possible correlations between the experienced feeling of loneliness and digital addictions, stress and emotional intelligence in Russian-speaking youth. Materials and methods. The basis of this empirical study was the results of online testing of 1833 young people aged 18-31 (mean age M=20.7 years, SD=2.9), including 1153 (57%) girls (M=21.1 years, SD=3.1) and 680 young men (M=20.1 years, SD=2.5). The study used UCLA Loneliness Scale D. Russell, L. Peploe and M. Ferguson, APA questionnaire of video game addiction, short version of the questionnaire of smartphone addiction (author V.P. Sheynov), questionnaire of social network addiction (authors V.P. Sheynov, A.S. Devitsyn), scale of perceived stress-10, diagnostics of emotional intelligence of N. Hall. Statistical analysis was carried out by programs from the SPSS-20 package, the level of statistical significance was accepted p≤0.05. Results. In young people, positive correlations were found between experienced loneliness and digital addictions (from video games, social networks and smartphones), as well as with perceived stress. A negative correlation was found with emotional intelligence and its components. Young men and women experience loneliness differently. The average indicators of experienced loneliness in the male sample are expressed more strongly than in the female one. Conclusion. The obtained results have important theoretical significance, as they show the importance of digitalization in the lives of young people. The spread and use of digital gadgets, as well as drive for video games and social networks, are strongly associated with the spread of loneliness in young people of both sexes. In turn, there is a connection between digital addictions and perceived stress, which also increases the feeling of loneliness. Emotional intelligence plays an important role in reducing the feeling of experienced loneliness. Loneliness is a prerequisite for socio-psychological maladjustment that occurs under the influence of acute psychotraumatic situations, disruptions in the interaction of an individual with their immediate environment. The latter, in turn, is one of the significant causes of suicidal behavior. Therefore, many programs for the prevention of self-destructive, including suicidal behavior in lonely young people should be created taking into account the results obtained in this study.
Keywords: youth, loneliness, addiction, digital addictions, video games, smartphone, social networks, stress, emotional intelligence
Kozlov VA, Khusainova AA, Golenkov AV, Zotov PB. Anorexia nervosa as a variation of the suicidal phenotype. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 106-133. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-106-133
As a result of the analysis of modern literature it has been shown that nervous anorexia (AN) is a multifactorial polyetiological mental disorder with a high tendency to commit hard suicides, the pathogenesis of which is associated with the presence of a group of polymorphic genes in the genome of patients. The specificity of accumulation in the genome of patients of patterns of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, occurring in different accumulation variants, determines the clinical phenotype of AN and the severity of this pathology. The onset of this pathology is probably associated with an increase in the concentration of estrogens in the pubertal and post-pubertal periods and, possibly, dietary intake of steroids of animal and/or plant origin with estrogenic activity, or other alimentary regulators of lipid nature. In addition, the studied data allowed us to conclude that AN is one of the forms of the suicidal phenotype.
Keywords: anorexia nervosa, eating disorders, suicidal behavior, single nucleotide polymorphisms, adipokines, neurotransmitters
Kupriyanova IE, Vasilyeva MG, Maltsev VS, Kazenykh TV. Suicidal behavior in women. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (2): 134-146. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-02(59)-134-146
Female suicidality is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon that can be caused by various biological, psychological and social factors. Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses can significantly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. Most studies show that women may be more likely to express their emotions and experiences, which can affect their suicidal tendencies. The aim of the article is to determine the relationship between the phenomenon of female suicidality and psychopathological disorders, psychological well-being, social, cultural and genetic factors. Materials and methods. Empirical analysis of publications in national and foreign databases: elibrary.ru, WoS, Scopus. Thematic search was performed using the following keywords: female suicidality, psychopathological disorders, psychological characteristics, social, cultural and genetic factors. Results. The features of suicidal behavior of women with schizophrenia, PTSD, adjustment disorder were analyzed. The uty65 features of female suicides (emotional lability, impulsiveness, psychological infantilism) are highlighted, and the characteristics of different age periods are described. Social problems of psychological maladjustment, cultural features, and genetic factors are highlighted. Innovative approaches to solving this problem are presented. A clinical case of a patient with an adjustment disorder and suicidal behavior is described. Conclusions: Female suicidality is associated with mental disorders, psychological characteristics, genetic, social and cultural factors.
Keywords: female suicidality, psychopathological disorders, psychological characteristics, social, cultural and genetic factors
«Suicidology» №3 – 2025
Merinov A.V. The decompensatory (minus) model of suicidal behavior. Part I. Plus / minus models of suicidogenesis, the main issue of suicidology. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 3-29. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-9-29
The problem of suicide is the most serious and still unresolved challenge to all of the humanity. The most important issue is the need to understand the mechanisms of suicidogenesis, as this is the key to solving the existing problem. To date, most of the likely candidates for the role of prosuicidal (plus-) factors have been studied, which together can not only increase the hypothetical risk of suicide, but also, with some degree of probability, be its cause. However, the paradox of the positive concepts of suicidogenesis, which postulate the role of suicidal events and circumstances brought into a person's life, is that no impact (even the most nightmarish) is equal to suicide or its attempt. The seemingly most fatal impact is nothing if there are conditions conducive to leveling it. It is the mechanism that, when fully functioning, makes it possible to cope with any indelible shame, restrictions and defeats in rights, inhumane conditions and hardships. A detailed analysis of the achievements of the "positive" theories of suicidogenesis leads us to a disappointing conclusion: the models used mostly have a similar disadvantage: the absolutization of the role of any one or group of related factors without giving due importance to other variables, usually playing an equally important role. Modern suicidology has encountered a phenomenon that is the opposite of the "survivorship bias" described by Abraham Wald, who called for strengthening aircraft not those places where the returned aircraft had the most holes, but those that were not damaged. Suicidology is too keen on studying the causes of "no return", paying much less attention to factors that can interrupt the suicidal process that has begun or block its occurrence against the background of the unconditional impact of suicidal challenges (battered by the "pro et contra" battle, but successfully returned "planes"). It is the study of the "contra" factors that will allow us to see the psychotherapeutic and preventive horizons in a completely different way. The proposed decompensatory (negative) model of suicidal behavior is based on the following provisions: antivital experiences (aspirations) are noted to varying degrees in absolutely all people; most living people have a certain system that counteracts them, aimed at inactivating antivital sensations; it is the decompensation of the counter-suicidal system (CSS) or the initial deficiency of its blocks/units that make possible the realization of suicidal intentions. CSS works in a permanent mode, organizing pro-life development trajectories, meanings and values of existence, creating antitheses to suicidal challenges in the case of its presence, being an ever-present component of the mental apparatus. In conditions of an effectively and fully functioning CSS, suicidal effects do not have a fatal or even any serious effect. Factors that reduce the effectiveness of CSS (exo- and endo-components of decompensation) increase sensitivity to suicidal calls. Decompensation of the CSS in the most typical version precedes the impact, which eventually started a suicidal track. The main issue of suicidology is the discussion of what allows a person to continue living in the presence of antivital experiences, hundreds of reasons to resolve a certain situation or conflict through suicide. What exactly makes such a track impossible for a particular person and what is possible to enhance or transform in an individual who considers such a trajectory as quite acceptable.
Keywords: suicide, suicidal behavior, autoaggressive behavior, decompensatory model of suicidal behavior, negative model of suicidal behavior, counter-suicidal system (CSS), the main issue of suicidology, theories of suicide, suicidality, suicidogenesis, descriptive suicidology
Kozlov V.A., Porozov A.N., Khusainova A.A., Golenkov A.V., Zotov P.B. Pharmacogenetics of suicide. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 30-56. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-30-56
This article examines the relationship between medication use and suicidal behavior (SB). It emphasizes that statistically documented associations between medication use and suicide are underutilized to develop hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying SB. Pharmacogenetic factors are proposed as key factors in determining the risk of drug-induced SB. The need to study polymorphic genes that alter the molecular structure of drug sites of action is substantiated. This, combined with genetic and epigenetic predisposition, can lead to suicidal outcomes. The importance of informing healthcare professionals about drug side effects and reporting suspicious adverse reactions to prevent potential harm is emphasized.
Keywords: induced suicide drugs, pharmacogenetics, statistics, ROR, semaglutide, loraglutide, finasteride, monetulkast, levonorgestrel, isotretinoin, anticonvulsants
Koroleva A.Yu., Borisonik E.V., Kholmogorova A.B. Phenomenological analysis of grief among relatives and friends following the suicide of a significant other. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 57-73. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-57-73
Qualitative analysis opens up new possibilities for studying the experience of grief associated with the completed suicide of a loved one. The aim is to study the grief experience of people whose relatives and friends have committed a completed suicide. Materials and methods. Twenty messages from grieving family members and friends, publicly available online, were identified for phenomenological analysis. Results. The main condensed semantic meanings identified by relatives and friends included: severe emotional state, denial of death, and memories of the past. Guilt was experienced by 90% of relatives, emotional pain by 50%, and 30% of grieving individuals described a worsening of their own condition during the grieving process. Friends also experienced guilt (30% of the group), a need for support and assistance from others (40% of the group), and described their memories (60% of the group). Conclusions. The use of support forums allows grieving individuals to express emotions and seek emotional support.
Keywords: suicide, grief, close circle, grieving, Internet forums
Lyubov E.B., Kulikov A.N. Loneliness and suicidal behavior: historical aspect and definitions. Part II: Forms and typology of pools and whirlpools of loneliness. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 74-90. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-74-90
Loneliness (hereinafter referred to as L) is not directly included in the extensive (expanding) set of risk factors in models of suicidal behavior (SB), but represents a growing clinical and social public health problem worldwide. The second chapter of this Review clarifies the definitions, forms, and typology of L, useful for understanding it and for scientific and practical purposes, drawing on illustrative material, primarily from fiction and self-descriptions, within the framework of a qualitative analysis. Lonelyness is presented as part of a continuum of socio-psychological (shaping the "normal" subject), existential, and potentially suicidogenic clinical conditions in their development.
Keywords: loneliness, forms, types, continuum, suicidal behavior
Kibitov A.A., Gorbunova A.P., Yakovleva Y.V., Kasyanov E.D., Rukavishnikov G.V., Kibitov A.O., Mazo G.E. Combined nonsuicidial and suicidal self-injurious behavior: transnosological role of family history and adverse childhood experiences. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 91-107. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-91-107
The combination of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) is the most pronounced variant of self-harming behavior and is associated with a significant increase in the risk of suicide. However, insufficient information is available on the complex transnosological influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and family history (FH) of mental, somatic and substance abuse disorders and self-injurious behavior on the risk of developing a combination of NSSI and SA. Aim of the study. To evaluate the transnosological association of ACE and FH with a combination of NSSI and SA in patients with affective disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Patients and methods. The sample consisted of 465 patients (63.9% women), median (Q1-Q3) age 28 (23-38) years, with affective disorders (75.3%) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. A combination of NSSI and SA was reported by 21.5% (n=100) of patients. Sociodemographic characteristics and information on FH were collected during a clinical interview. ACE was assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Between-group comparisons were conducted, and regression analysis was used to comprehensively assess the association of FH, ACE, gender, age, and diagnostic group with the combination of NSSI and SA. Results. Patients with a combination of NSSI and SA more often reported FH with suicide attempts (25.0% vs. 6.8%, p<0.001), as well as such types of ACE as physical abuse (33.8% vs. 11.4%, p<0.001), emotional abuse (59.0% vs. 32.8%, p<0.001), domestic violence (74.4% vs. 59.2%, p=0.015), emotional neglect (67.9% vs. 35.5%, p<0.001), bullying (39.7% vs. 20.3%, p<0.001), deprivation (divorce or death) of parents (60.3% vs. 43.6%, p=0.01). Logistic regression revealed significant associations with suicide attempts (OR=3.212, p=0.003), physical abuse (OR=2.515, p=0.01), emotional neglect (OR=2.122, p=0.016), age (for each year, OR=0.905, p<0.001) with a combination of SA and NSSI. Conclusions. The obtained results demonstrate the presence of a complex transnosological interaction of hereditary and environmental factors in the development of a combination of NSSI and SA, which indicates the need to consider them when studying self-harming behavior. The results of this study can serve as a basis for further research into the transnosological biological mechanisms of the development of NSSI and suicidal behavior. This will potentially allow for the creation of more accurate predictive models of high suicide risk and the development of targeted preventive measures for vulnerable patient groups.
Keywords: adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, family history, NSSI, self-harm, suicide, suicide attempt
Golenkov A.V., Kozlov V.A., Bulygina I.E., Kirillov A.G. Victim-involved murder or "blue suicide" (a review of international research). Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 108-119. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-108-119
“Suicide by cop” (SbC) is a rare and unusual method of intentional suicide by provoking murder (using a firearm). The aim is to summarize current data on SbC, primarily based on foreign literature. Scientific interest in SbC emerged in the 1980s and 1990s and was primarily covered in English-language literature. SbC incidence ranges from 10.0 to 76.0%, and its frequency greatly depends on the incident characteristics (higher in cases involving potential life threat to police officers and hostage-taking). SbC is committed by men in 83.0-98.0% of cases, primarily by young people (mean age 35.0-38.0 years of age), Caucasians with various manifestations of suicidal behavior (26.0-66.2%) and mental disorders (25.5-67.0%), typically in a state of intoxication (17.3-94.7%). From 1.0 to 85.3% of the initiators of the incidents were killed, 3.0-67.0% were injured, and up to 8.3% committed suicide themselves. The causes of the incidents vary significantly, most often these are manifold stressful situations (conflicts), as well as problems related to family, work (employment), housing (availability, loss of housing), finances, committing crimes and punishment for illegal activity. In American feature films, SbC occur 10 times more often than in real life (1.28% versus 0.12% among US population). In Russia, there is no statistical data on the incidents, the number of publications are extremely limited, but in recent years, reports on such cases started to emerge in regional electronic media. Keeping records on the SbC incidents by a trained team of law enforcement officers and specialists in various fields can significantly reduce fatal outcomes (injuries and trauma) among participants in such incidents.
Keywords: suicide, “suicide by cop”, rare and unusual suicide methods, VICTIM-provoked MURDER, suicide prevention
Gurulyova E.R., Merinov A.V., Gurulyov V.A. Suicidal behavior of young men with nervous bulimia. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 120-129. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-120-129
Today, eating disorders (EDs) represent a spectrum of illnesses with one of the highest mortality rates (including suicide) among individuals with mental illness. There is a persistent prejudice that EDs are more prevalent among women, but in recent years, the situation has changed dramatically: the diagnosis of EDs (particularly bulimia nervosa (BN)) is increasingly being made in men. The aim of the study is to study suicidological characteristics of young men suffering from bulimia nervosa. Materials and methods. The study involved 106 young men aged 20 to 24, studying at a university. Of these, 30 had a diagnosis of NB and were included in the study group. The control group consisted of 76 young men without this diagnosis. The following diagnostic tools were used: a clinical and anamnestic questionnaire aimed at identifying autoaggressive patterns in the past and present; the coefficient of prosuicidal tension (CPST); Suicide Risk Questionnaire (SRQ) in the modification of T.N. Razumovskaya. Mathematical processing of the data was carried out using the SPSS program. Results and discussion. The study did not reveal statistically significant differences in classical autoaggressive patterns, but the number of men who thought about the possibility of committing suicide over the past two years in the study group was twice as high as in the control group. A similar situation is observed in relation to the affective profile of the respondents: men with NB in the past two years statistically significantly more often noted: obsessive feelings of guilt (27% and 11% in the control group, respectively), shame (30% and 11%, respectively), a feeling of hopelessness (40% and 9%, respectively), a feeling of inferiority (37% and 7%, respectively). Noteworthy is the frequency of smoking in the group of men (40% and 7%), a tendency in the past two years to unjustified risk (20% versus 5%, respectively). The high suicidal potential of young men with NB is confirmed by high scores on the SRQ scales and the CPST scores, which are widely recognized predictors of self-harming behavior. Conclusions. Despite the absence of statistically significant differences in the prevalence of classic suicidal behavior patterns, the study group of young men with NB is quite challenging from a suicidological perspective. When patterns of self-inflicted behavior are detected in young men, the possibility of NB as a cause should be considered (and vice versa). Developing screening checklists for diagnosing NB in individuals seeking treatment from related specialists for non-eating-related problems is advisable. In suicidological practice, when working with young men (during preventive and screening measures), greater attention should be paid to identifying eating behavior patterns.
Keywords: eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, young men with bulimia nervosa, non-suicidal behavior, self-aggression, suicidology
Subotich M.I., Kholmogorova A.B., Rakhmanina A.A., Potskhveriya M.M. Psychosocial and clinical characteristics of individuals who have attempted suicide. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (3): 130-143. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-03(60)-130-143
Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are a significant problem, particularly among individuals of working age. Despite theoretical differences, in clinical practice, determining a patient's true intentions is challenging: motivations may overlap, change during interviews, or be deliberately concealed. These difficulties highlight the need for an in-depth study of the factors influencing nature and direction of suicidal behavior. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between suicidal intent and psychosocial and clinical characteristics in patients who have committed suicide attempt (SA). The study hypothesis is that patients aged 18 to 40 with a diagnosis of personality disorder and motives for self-harm related to the desire to influence the situation or significant others are more likely to commit acts of self-harm without an expressed intent to die. Materials and methods: clinical interview, analysis of case histories, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Scale, Loneliness Scale. The study included 119 patients admitted to the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care (Moscow) after a suicide. The subjects were divided into two groups: 40 (33.6%) with the intent to die; 79 (66.4%) indicated other intentions (emotional regulation, influence on the situation or loved ones). Results. Among patients with suicidal intent, there have been reported more people aged 45–59 rather than in the group who did not demonstrate such intent (61.5 % versus 38.5%). Suicidal intent was more often reported by men (46.5 % versus 27.3%, p=0.04). Individuals with suicidal intent, among the reasons for suicide, more often reported depressed mood, namely feelings of sadness, loneliness, despondency, than patients without such intent (61.1%, p=0.001). Among those who attempted suicide, the presence of suicidal intent was statistically significantly associated with a higher frequency of diagnosis of affective disorders (53.1%, p=0.005), including moderate depression, compared with patients who did not have an expressed intent to die (26.3% versus 7.9%).Younger individuals more often committed suicide without the intent to die (68.9%), most common causes of suicide were conflicts with significant loved ones (81.7%, p=0.001). In this category of subjects, the diagnosis of personality disorder was predominant, while pronounced symptoms of depression were absent (78.8%). Conclusion. The study found a correlation between suicidal intent and the patients' psychosocial and clinical characteristics. Patients who exhibited suicidal intent had moderate depression, were predominantly 45–59 years of age, were male, and experienced significant feelings of social isolation. At the same time, patients who identified suicidal intent as a desire for emotional regulation or an attempt to resolve a conflict with loved ones were statistically significantly more likely to be young and to have significant difficulties in interpersonal communication. These patients were more often diagnosed with personality disorders, while depressive symptoms were absent or did not reach clinically significant levels. These findings should be taken into account when providing assistance to patients after a suicide attempt.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, suicidal attempts, non-suicidal self-harm, suicidal intent, suicidal orientation, suicidal thoughts
«Suicidology» №4 – 2025
Felsendorff O.V., Rozanov V.A. Migration, migrants and suicide: a brief narrative review of the foreign studies. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 3-26. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-3-26
In the modern world, the intensity of migration processes is increasing, involving hundreds of millions of people. In many suicidological guidelines, immigrant status is considered a risk factor for suicide. However, migrants are not a homogeneous group; their motives are diverse, and the consequences for mental health and suicidal behavior are ambiguous. Methodology. A search was conducted in domestic and international databases on the problem of suicide among migrants. Thirty-five sources from Western countries were processed. Results. Suicidal behavior among migrants is most actively studied in Western countries, which are the main destination for international migration flows from countries with a lower economic level. Studies show that despite significant variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, attempts, and completed suicide, immigrants most often demonstrate characteristic of suicidal behavior that are inherent to their countries of origin. Consequently, immigrants from the Middle East, for example, have lower rates in the Western European countries compared to the local population, while immigrants from countries of the former USSR have relatively higher rates. Sometimes this pattern is visible only in the first generation, while in the second generation the levels begin to approach those typical of the host culture. Teenagers and young people, who are deeply involved in the global information context, are at a highest risk. The situation in different host countries depends on migration policy, the status of the migrant (refugees, undocumented migrants, those granted asylum or who have legalized their status), as well as the historically formed attitude towards migration. Conclusion. Suicides among migrants are a topical research subject in Western suicidology. The international experience accumulated in this area is of interest to us from the perspective of the methodology used for the analysis, as well as in the context of assessing possible burden on psychiatric and psychological support resources.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, suicides, migration, migrants, risk factors, protective factors
Merinov A.V. The decompensatory (minus) model of suicidal behavior. Part II. Counter-suicidal system. Counter-suicidal blocks. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 27-55. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-27-55
Research objective: This work is the second part of a report on the decompensatory model of suicidal behavior (DMS). The first part dealt with the conceptual aspects of the proposed model, the role and place of the contra-suicidal system (CSS). This message is dedicated to its inner content. The CSS consists of eight contra-suicide units (CSU). CSU are rather early acquired constructs formed in the process of socialization, the educational process, and the creation of a personal worldview. Their primary weakness (or absence), or secondary decompensation, leading to their apparent insufficiency at some period of individual existence, leave a person unarmed before suicidal influences. Results: eight universal CSU are described and substantiated. The contra-escape block: a set of attitudes and beliefs related toward the fear of physical disappearance. The contra-tolerance block: a set of attitudes, beliefs and formed ideas related toward the unacceptability of suicide. The contra-absurdity block: a set of attitudes, beliefs and formed ideas underlying the recognition of the importance of human existence. The contra-hopelessness block: a set of attitudes, beliefs and cognitive strategies that form confidence in the availability of a way out of any situation, the transience of any difficulties. The contra-impulsivity block: a set of attitudes and developed strategies that correct and restrain rash, overly affected actions. The contra-decomposition block: a set of attitudes concerning group community, the importance of individually significant attachments. The contra-incorpoteality block: a set of attitudes and beliefs that form the concept of the value of individual physicality, organizational integrity. The contra-imitation block: a set of attitudes and strategies associated with the unacceptability of copying someone else's behavior or way of thinking. Conclusion: CSS, being primarily a provital construct, is a complex mechanism consisting of eight contra-suicidal blocks. CSU is a set of conscious, seemingly logical attitudes, beliefs, cognitive schemas and phobic constructs that permanently eliminate the influence of individual and universal suicidal challenges arising in the process of ontogenesis. CSU become distinctly contra-suicidal at the moment of direct contact with a significant suicidal factor. In the absence of substantive challenges, the CSU works in the mode of creating a pro-life narrative, meanings and goals of existence. CSU are non-specific to suicidal challenges. The full-fledged work of the CSS is able to effectively block suicidal calls of any level. The initial weakness of CSU, or their secondary decompensation, creates opportunities for the realization of suicidal impulses. CSU are easily conceptualized in the customer experience, creating opportunities for their diagnosis, use for therapeutic and preventive purposes.
Keywords: decompensatory model of suicidal behavior (DMS), negative model of suicidal behavior, suicide, suicidal behavior, autoaggressive behavior, contra-suicidal system (CSS), contra-suicidal blocks (CSU), contra-escape block, contra-tolerance block, contra-absurdity block, block contra-hopelessness, block contra-impulsivity
Kozlov VA, Golenkov AV., Deomidov E.S. Telomere length as a suicide probability marker. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 56-74. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-56-74
Telomere shortening has been shown to be a marker not only of cellular aging but also of a number of pathological processes and diseases, including suicidal behavior and the risk of completed suicide. The aim of this study was to summarize the association between telomere length and telomerase activity with mental disorders and suicidal tendencies. Methods. A targeted search of full-text publications in the PubMed database was carried out using the keyword combination: telomere length suicide, telomeres suicide, lithium telomeres suicide, depression telomeres suicide, schizophrenia telomeres. Results. An analysis of 65 full-text publications yielded compelling evidence of genetic differences between patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and mentally healthy individuals not prone to suicide, and individuals from the same clinical groups with suicidal behavior, including those resulting in completed suicide. It should be noted that significant telomere shortening caused by decreased activity of the catalytic component of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and/or its RNA component (TERC) leads to impaired mitochondrial respiration with reduced ATP production, activation of mitochondria-dependent inflammatory processes, and pathologically accelerated apoptosis. This is the only marker that distinguishes individuals with mental disorders and suicidal tendencies from mentally ill individuals without suicidal tendencies, whose telomeres are comparable in length to those of healthy individuals or are slightly shortened. Long-term treatment with Li+ and, to a lesser extent, other antipsychotic drugs that prevent telomere shortening is most effective. Li+ even partially restores telomere length, including in healthy individuals with age-related telomere shortening. Conclusion. Telomeres in mentally ill individuals and healthy individuals prone to suicide are statistically significantly shorter than those in healthy individuals who are not prone to suicide and in patients with mental illness. Congenital and acquired telomere shortening can be used as an early marker of potential suicidal tendencies for the formation of target groups for suicide prevention and preclinical identification of individuals at potential risk for developing mental disorders. Long-term intake of Li+ prevents telomere shortening and reduces the risk of suicide by restoring reduced telomerase activity to values close to physiological ones.
Keywords: suicidal behavior, suicide, telomeres, telomerase, suicide prevention
Lyubov EB. Loneliness and suicidal behavior: historical aspect and definitions. Part III: gardens of solitude. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 75-103. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-75-103
Loneliness (hereinafter referred to as L) is associated with the risk of depression and suicidal behavior (SB), and is therefore of growing interest to public health worldwide. This next section of the conceptual review clarifies the typology of the L continuum, identifying operational criteria for partially overlapping social isolation and solitude as suicidal and anti-suicidal factors, drawing on literature.
Keywords: loneliness, solitude, social isolation, suicidal behavior
Evseev V.D. An integral model of risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior among nonclinical adolescent males of draft age. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 104-121. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-104-121
Non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) is a significant mental health problem among conscription-age men, but remains poorly studied in non-clinical populations, especially in the Russian context. Existing risk models rarely take into account the gender and social specifics of this group. Aim: to develop and empirically verify an integrated model of risk factors for SHB in conscription-age men in the non-clinical population. Materials and methods: the study involved 507 men aged 18–30 years (mean age 19.68±2.07 years) undergoing a medical examination at a military commissariat. SHB was diagnosed based on DSM-V criteria. A set of psychometric methods was used: the Five-Factor Personality Questionnaire (5PFQ), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), and others. For the analysis, we used univariate methods (χ² criterion, Mann–Whitney U) and binary logistic regression with stepwise selection of variables. Results. The overall prevalence of NSSI in the sample was 18.9% (n=96). The final integrated model included five key predictors combined into four factors: affective-impulsive dysregulation: high rates of impulsivity (BIS-11; OR=1.049; p=0.008) and anxiety (BAI; OR=1.089; p=0.008); destructive coping: interest in dangerous Internet content (OR=4.271; p=0.005); family dysfunction: disharmonious relationships in the family (OR=3.811; p=0.003); Personality vulnerability: high neuroticism (5PFQ; OR=1.493; p=0.024). The model demonstrated good psychometric properties: Nagelkerke determination coefficient R²=0.387, classification accuracy – 86.2%, Hosmer-Lemeshow test confirmed the adequacy of the model (p=0.633). Conclusions. NSSI in individuals of conscription age is a multidimensional phenomenon formed at the intersection of personality predisposition (neuroticism), emotional-regulatory deficit (anxiety, impulsivity), deviant behavioral patterns and unfavorable family background. The proposed model provides a theoretical basis for the development of differentiated preventive and screening measures in the system of military medical examination and mental health services.
Keywords: non-suicidal self-harming behavior, conscription age, risk factors, integrated model, impulsivity, anxiety, family relationships, neuroticism, non-clinical population
Gurulyova E.R., Merinov A.V. Suicidality in young women and men with nervous bulimia: a systematic review. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 122-139. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-122-139
Currently, official statistics illustrate a disappointing trend regarding the increasing incidence of eating disorders (EDs). Despite the great interest in anorexia nervosa, traditionally considered the most "malignant" type of eating disorder, a significant increase in patients with bulimia nervosa cannot be denied. A significant number of studies have been conducted on the premature mortality of patients with bulimia, but the available data (especially regarding suicide) are quite contradictory. The aim of this study is to clarify prevailing views on the concepts of autoaggressive behavior in patients with bulimia nervosa (including suicidal patterns). Materials and methods: A systematic review of scientific publications in eLabrary, PubMed, and Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar. Following a staged selection of publications, 25 scientific papers were included in the study (out of 19,703 studies initially selected based on keywords). Results and discussion: Of the 25 papers devoted to the suicidological characteristics of bulimia nervosa, the majority of scientific papers attribute patients' suicidal risk to the influence of personality and behavioral characteristics (usually without specifying premorbid or acquired as a result of bulimia nervosa). Eight papers link suicidal and non-suicidal self-aggression with existing comorbid conditions, mostly personality and mood disorders, and substance use. Only four papers demonstrate a direct influence of bulimia nervosa on respondents' suicidal behavior without the influence of comorbid and personality components; one paper refutes the association between bulimia nervosa and suicidal risk. Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates a high risk of suicide in patients with NB (without contextualization). Observed suicidal tendencies are driven by chronic body dissatisfaction and systematic compensatory behaviors (self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives and psychotropic drugs, and increased physical activity). Despite a significant number of studies citing the influence of premorbid personality traits and the presence of comorbidity, a number of studies emphasize a direct link between existing bulimia nervosa and a high risk of suicidal behavior.
Keywords: eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, suicide, autoaggression, non-suicidal autoaggressive behavior, suicidology
Zotov P.B., Lyubov E.B., Mateykovich M.S., Suldin A.M., Sozonyuk V.V., Belozerova A.V., Alekseeva E.A. Suicidal behavior among construction industry employees. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 140-156. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-140-156
There are no official statistics on the prevalence of suicide among construction workers. The difficulty of recognizing suicides remains a problem. Differential diagnosis with accidents and injuries at work. However, studies conducted in various countries indicate higher rates of suicide mortality among construction workers, primarily blue-collar workers, than in the general population (at least twice as much), along with a significant prevalence of suicidal ideation and self-harm. Male construction workers account for the majority of suicide deaths (up to 97.8%). These are predominantly young individuals who have recently entered the workforce, lack any construction skills, and perform low-skilled labor. In most cases, the work of potential suicide attempters involves physically demanding and low-paid labor, often under conditions of stigma, bullying, and harassment from others, long-standing personal and family problems, divorce, or living alone. At the time of suicidal actions, many workers suffer from clinically defined depressive disorders (17.9%), anxiety (30.3%), and stress (12%), as well as a history of alcohol abuse or drug use. Somatic illnesses and workplace injuries can contribute to a worsening of mental health. Measures to prevent suicidal behavior among workers in this sector are practically nonexistent. Timely identification of mental disorders and suicidal ideation is limited due to the low rate of active consultation with mental health professionals among construction workers, which is often associated with a traditionally "male" attitude toward psychological problems and the inability to recognize depression. Therefore, among measures to prevent suicide among construction workers, educational work on mental health, stress management, and the importance of promptly seeking help are essential. Lower and mid-level managers are responsible for creating a comfortable psychological environment, preventing and/or resolving conflict situations, and combating stigmatization and bullying within the workplace. If necessary, assistance in improving working conditions and engaging various forms of social and material support, including assistance from trade unions, is provided. If signs of mental disorders or physical illness are detected, referral to a medical facility is provided.
Keywords: suicide, construction workers, builders, suicide of builders, construction industry, risk factors for suicide of builders, methods of suicide of builders, suicide prevention in the construction industry
Kholmogorova A.B., Ermakova A.M., Trukhina D.S. Risk factors and protective factors of emotional maladaptation and suicidal behavior in adolescence. Suicidology. 2025; 16 (4): 157-169. (In Russ / Engl) doi.org/10.32878/suiciderus.25-16-04(61)-157-169
Adolescence is considered a challenging period due to significant biopsychosocial changes. Emotional maladjustment in adolescents is associated with the risk of self-harm, suicidal behavior, and dysfunctional interpersonal relationships. Aim of the study is to identify the relationship between emotional maladjustment and destructive personality traits and interpersonal relationship problems in adolescents and to formulate recommendations for providing effective psychological support. Methods. To study the severity of symptoms of emotional maladjustment, the Children's Depression Questionnaire (Kovak) was used. M., 1992, adaptation and validation in a Russian-language sample: Volikova S.V. et al., 2011). To study personal and interpersonal risk factors and protective factors: the Loneliness Scale (Russell D. et al., 1978), a three-factor perfectionism questionnaire (Garanyan N.G. et al., 2018); a method for determining general and social self-efficacy (Scheer M., Maddux J., adapted by Boyarintseva A.V., 2003), and the Subjectness Position questionnaire (Zaretsky Yu.V. et al., 2014). Results. The sample consisted of students in grades 7–11 of a Moscow secondary school, including 35 boys and 56 girls. The suicide risk group is dominated by adolescents who are distinguished by high rates of depressive symptoms, subjective experience of loneliness, socially prescribed perfectionism and perfectionistic cognitive style, as well as a negative position in academic activities. On the contrary, indicators of all types of self-efficacy and subjectness position in learning act as protective factors for emotional well-being. Conclusions. Supporting students' subjectness position in academic activity and increasing their self-efficacy, as well as reducing destructive types of perfectionism, can be considered the most important targets for preventing emotional maladjustment and suicidal risk.
Keywords: adolescents, emotional maladjustment, personal factors, interpersonal factors, protective factors, subjectness position in educational activities, self-efficacy