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Psychache and Suicide Ideation among Men Who Are Homeless: A Test of Shneidman’s Model
Author(s) -
Patterson Allisha A.,
Holden Ronald R.
Publication year - 2012
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.2011.00078.x
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , test (biology) , psychology , suicide ideation , ideation , clinical psychology , psychiatry , gerontology , medicine , suicide prevention , medical emergency , poison control , cognitive science , paleontology , biology
Suicide ideation among the homeless is 10 times more common than in the general population. Cognitive theories of depression and hopelessness propose to explain suicidality; however, as yet, none of these fully account for the phenomenon. Shneidman has suggested a theory of psychache or unbearable psychological pain to explain suicidality. This theory has found support among low‐risk populations but has not been extensively tested within a high‐risk population. The current research assessed the utility of psychache among men who are homeless ( N = 97). In support of Shneidman’s theory, analyses revealed that psychache was a stronger predictor of suicide ideation than was depression, hopelessness, or life meaning.