Cluster analysis profiles of suicide attempters

Abstract

The author reports the results of a three-stage cluster analysis of data on 298 patients who attempted suicide. Patients were allocated by the analysis to seven identifiable profile types that correlated with six outcome variables. These profiles include data on the social setting and the seriousness of the attempt and judgments about overall functioning and interpersonal conflict as well as the input of the patients' significant others. The author states that these profiles have prognostic significance as well as implications for the treatment of suicide attempters and the education of emotionally involved significant others.