Objectives: This study was focused on investigating clinical features and adaptability after rejoining the army unit who had been hospitalized in psychiatric department of K Military General Hospital from suicide attempts.
Methods: 31 inpatients who had been hospitalized from September 1997 to august 1999 were evaluated for the research. The inpatients' demographic data and MMPI responses were compared with the control group of soldiers who had no
neuropsychiatric
past history and clean military performance record. The control group was randomly selected from same rank and location of the base for solid match. The author also evaluated the clinical features and prospective adaptability of suicide attempted
soldiers after rejoining the army.
Results: Sibling order showed a different forms in suicide group compared with control group. In descriptive review, suicide attempter showed followings items more frequently : adjustment disorder (77.4%), wrist slash (54.8%), during the
weekend
(42%), in the afternoon (from lunch to dinner, 35.5%) and in summer (35.4%). In the reasons of suicidal attempts, assault and battery from higher ranking soldiers (28.9%) and conflicts between parents (31.3%) were the most frequently answered.
Some
scores of MMPI response were significantly higher in the suicidal group than the control group. The 23 (74.3%) out of the 31 suicidal patients were able to return to their base, and among these, the 20 (86.9%) patients were able to accomplish
their
original duty or reassigned without any problems.
Conclusion: The rejoining rate and their adaptability is implicating us that suicidal attempters could have a better adaptability more than what people have imagined of. The authors suggest that every commanding officer should change the
misconception about suicidal attempters, treat them more optimistic way and consider them as same as other well functioning soldiers.
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