Rigid thinking in suicidal individuals.

Abstract

The folklore hypothesis that suicidal individuals think in a rigid manner was evaluated by the California F Scale and the Rokeach Map Test. They were administered to a suicidal attempt group, a group of psychosomatic patients, and to hospitalized normal Ss. It was found that the suicidal group earned significantly higher California F Scale scores (p < .01), and that they also shifted significantly fewer times (p < .01) on the Rokeach Map Test, when compared with the other 2 groups. It was cautiously concluded that the folklore position had some validity.

Decreased activation of lateral orbitofrontal cortex during risky choices under uncertainty is associated with disadvantageous decision-making and suicidal behavior

“…Suicide attempters may not be aware of the uncertainty associated with these decks, seeing options as certain on the basis of initially-determined immediate outcomes. This "lack of flexibility" has previously been described in suicide attempters as "cognitive rigidity" (Neuringer, 1964).…”

Resentment and Dependency in the Suicidal Individual

“…Those to whom he might turn for help may also be those whom he resents. This source of conflict, when compounded with factors, such as fewer resources available, extreme rigidity in thought, and a tendency to react extremely to information from the environment (12,13), and a tendency to be emotionally disturbed, may lead inexorably to consideration of suicide and possibly to a suicide attempt.…”

Attempted Suicide as a Hostile Act

“…There is some evidence that this may be true. Neuringer (22), working from a different point of view, has reported that on a variety of psychological tasks suicidal individuals are more rigid in their thought than are nonsuicidal individuals or psychoneurotic patients. (b) To what end does the suicidal individual extort and distort evidence?…”