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The Epidemiology of Life‐Threatening Events *
Author(s) -
Berman Alan L.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1975.tb00313.x
Subject(s) - epidemiology , panic , demography , psychology , population , suicide prevention , injury prevention , poison control , medicine , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medical emergency , anxiety , sociology
This paper explores the epidemiology and impact (both short‐ and long‐term) of acute life‐threatening experiences among a youthful population. Interviews were conducted with 649 individuals between the ages of 13 and 30. Thirty‐four percent of these respondents reported a total of 290 analyzable, subjectively perceived death confrontation experiences. An estimate of over 2 1/2 million living ex‐suicide attempters, under age 30, was derived, and suicide was found to be a significantly unique form of death confrontation. In contrast to earlier work, panic and fear were found significantly to describe the majority of impacts reported, while avoidance appears to be the modal long‐term effect. Differential impacts and effects are reported by mode of event, and results are discussed in relation to their impact for crisis counseling.