Suicide notes: clinical and linguistic analysis from the perspective of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

Abstract

SPAIN CHILEABSTRACT -Background and Objectives: Studying suicide notes is a strong methodology in suicidology and one of the most relevant theoretical frameworks is the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide proposed by Joiner.This study analyzed 80 suicide notes collected in Chile searching for the risk factors proposed by the theory and its implications. The clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the notes' authors were analyzed too.Methods: The suicide notes were classified according to the presence or absence of the suicide risk factors proposed by the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide and were analyzed linguistically with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count program.Results: One or both interpersonal risk factors indicated by the theory were identified in 60% of the notes. The "lack of belonging" factor was the most common risk factor, and various linguistic profiles in the suicide notes were found according to the presence or absence of this factor.Conclusions: We confirmed the relevance of the interpersonal risk factors proposed as issues present in a high percentage of notes and found linguistic differences according to its presence or absence in the suicide notes.

The manner of death in a case with two stab wounds caused by two weapons: case report

“…The presence of suicidal letters and the absence of fight signs are related to the suicide phenomenon. According to the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, Fernández-Cabana et al (2015) stated that suicidal factors could be identified from suicidal notes, and both interpersonal risk factors, including the feeling of being a burden and lack of belonging to a group, were the most commonly detected factors (Fernández-Cabana et al, 2015).…”

Language Style Matching as a Counseling Skill Evaluation Tool

“…About two decades ago, no counseling research examined a clinician's ability to determine risk through counseling dialog examination (Reeves et al, 2004). Recently, just a few have applied linguistics to examine suicidal discourse in the broader helping professions (Fernández-Cabana et al, 2015;Rowley, 2019;Sindoni, 2020). Second, this study contributes to the counseling profession by disrupting current practice using LSM as an evaluation tool (Tadajewski & Hewer, 2011).…”

“…One study showed that machine learning could identify the suicidality of a client when they were not in an acute stage of suicidal ideation and is more effective than a standard suicidal assessment (Pestian et al, 2020). A second study, which applied Joiner's interpersonal theory (ITS) of the suicide model, found a significant linguistic difference in the presence and absence of ITS factors (Fernández-Cabana et al, 2015). Despite a collection of linguistic analysis studies, no research has been done on suicidal discourse in counseling sessions using LSM methodology and software.…”

Conductas asociadas al suicidio y su relación con el apoyo social y la sintomatología depresiva

“…Esta teoría ha resultado certera para el entendimiento de la conducta suicida, debido a que cada vez hay más evidencia de la presencia de dichos tres factores; por ejemplo, en un estudio realizado por Fernández et al (2015), en el que analizaron las notas de personas que murieron por suicidio, se confirmó la presencia de contenido relacionado con los factores de riesgo interpersonales, sobre todo el relacionado a la falta de pertenencia a un grupo. Por su parte, Hollingsworth et al (2018) examinaron la percepción de ser una carga y la pertenencia frustrada en estudiantes universitarios, y encontraron que el percibirse como una carga media la relación entre el apoyo social percibido y la ideación suicida, así como la relación entre la falta de conexión social y la ideación suicida.…”