Table Of ContentSuicidal Behaviour
Suicidal Behaviour: Underlying dynamics is a wide ranging collection of articles
that builds upon an earlier volume by the same editor, Suicidal Behaviour:
Assessment of people-at-risk, 2010, and delves deeper into the dynamics of suicide
by synthesizing signifi cant psychological and interdisciplinary perspectives. The
volume brings together varied conceptualizations by scholars across disciplines
from around the globe, adding to available theoretical understanding as well as
providing research-based inputs for practitioners in the fi eld of suicidal behaviour.
The book has sixteen chapters divided into two broad sections, opening with a
discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of suicidal behaviour in the fi rst half,
conceptualizing the phenomenon from different vantage points of genetics,
personality theory, cognitive and affective processes, stress and assessment
theories. The second half brings in varied research evidences and assessment
perspectives from different populations and groups, building on theoretical
foundations and discussing the nuances of dealing with suicidal behaviours among
sexual minority populations, alcoholics, military personnel, and specifi c socio-
cultural groups. It closes with a focus on a signifi cant issue encountered often in
clinical practice – assessment of suicide risk and ways of resolving the cultural,
ethical and legal dilemmas.
Updesh Kumar is a Scientist ‘F’ and Head, Mental Health Division, Defence
Institute of Psychological Research, the Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO), New Delhi, India.
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Suicidal Behaviour
Underlying dynamics
Edited by
Updesh Kumar
First published 2015
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2015 U. Kumar
The right of the editor to be identifi ed as the author of the editorial material,
and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent
to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
pages cm
1. Suicidal behavior—Risk factors. I. Kumar, Updesh.
RC569.S8954 2015
616.85(cid:118)844505—dc23
2014019822
ISBN: 978-1-138-79381-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-76084-1 (ebk)
Typeset in Galliard
by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk
To His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji
Founder, Art of Living
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Contents
List of contributors ix
Foreword xix
MAURIZIO POMPILI
Preface xxi
PART I
Theoretical underpinnings 1
1 Conceptualizing suicidal behaviour:
understanding and prevention 3
HARDEEP LAL JOSHI, VIJAY PARKASH AND UPDESH KUMAR
2 Genetics of suicidal behavior 23
MARCO SARCHIAPONE AND MIRIAM IOSUE
3 Suicidality and personality: linking pathways 39
VIJAY PARKASH AND UPDESH KUMAR
4 Emotion dysregulation and suicidality 56
MICHAEL D. ANESTIS
5 Role of aggression and impulsivity in
suicide attempts and in suicide completion 66
YARI GVION AND ALAN APTER
6 Psycho-social stress and suicidal behaviour 80
VSEVOLOD A. ROZANOV
7 From social adversity to psychological pain:
a pathway to suicide 98
PHILIPPE COURTET AND EMILIE OLIÉ
viii Contents
8 Clustering and contagion of suicidal behaviour 110
ELLA ARENSMAN AND CARMEL McAULIFFE
PART II
Varied research evidence and assessment perspectives 121
9 Suicidal ideation and behavior among
sexual minority youth: correlates, vulnerabilities,
and protective factors 123
SAMANTHA PFLUM, KAITLIN VENEMA, JOSEPH TOMLINS,
PETER GOLDBLUM AND BRUCE BONGAR
10 Spatial and temporal distribution of suicidal
behaviour with a special focus on Hungary:
understanding the variations 136
ZOLTÁN RIHMER, XENIA GONDA AND PETER DOME
11 Suicide in the United States military 153
TRACY A. CLEMANS AND CRAIG J. BRYAN
12 Contribution of alcohol to suicide mortality
in Eastern Europe 168
YURY E. RAZVODOVSKY
13 Media content representation of suicide in
various societies: a critical review 186
QIJIN CHENG AND PAUL S. F. YIP
14 The formal assessment of suicide risk 202
BRUCE BONGAR, ELVIN SHEYKHANI, URI KUGEL
AND DAVID GIANNINI
15 Culturally competent suicide assessment 213
URI KUGEL, LORI HOLLERAN, KASIE HUMMEL,
JOYCE CHU, PETER GOLDBLUM AND BRUCE BONGAR
16 Ethical and legal issues in dealing with
suicidal behaviour 224
SWATI MUKHERJEE AND UPDESH KUMAR
Index 236
Contributors
The Editor
Updesh Kumar, PhD, is Scientist ‘F’ and chair of the Mental Health Division at
the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), R&D Organization,
Ministry of Defence, Delhi. He obtained his doctorate degree in the area of
suicidal behaviour from Punjab University, Chandigarh and has 23 years of
experience as a scientist in R&D organizations. He specializes in low intensity
confl ict, suicidal behaviour and terrorism research. He edited six volumes:
Recent Developments of Psychology, Counseling: A practical approach, Suicidal
Behaviour: Assessment of People-at-Risk (Sage Publications, 2010), Countering
Terrorism: Psychosocial Strategies (Sage Publications, 2012),Understanding
Suicide Terrorism: Psychosocial Dynamics (Sage Publications, 2014), and
recently Positive Psychology: Applications in Work, Health and Well-being (in
press, Pearson Education). He has written the manuals Suicide and Fratricide:
Dynamics and management for defence personnel, Managing Emotions in
Daily Life and in Work Place for general publication, Overcoming Obsolescence
and Becoming Creative in the R&D Environment for R&D organizations
and Self-Help Techniques in Military Settings. He has written more than
50 other academic publications in the form of research papers, journal articles
and book chapters and represented his institute at national and international
level. Dr Kumar has been a psychological assessor (psychologist) in various
services selection boards for eight years for the selection of offi cers in the
Indian armed forces. He is certifi ed by The British Psychological Society with
level A and level B Certifi cate of Competence in Occupational Testing. He has
to his credit many important research projects relating to the armed forces.
He was conferred with the DRDO’s Best Popular Science Communication
Award, 2009 by the Honourable Defence Minister of India. He has also been
the recipient of the DRDO Technology Group Award in 2001 and 2009,
Professor Manju Thakur Memorial Award, 2009 and 2012 by the Indian
Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) and Professor N. N. Sen Best Paper
Award for the year 2010 by the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists
(IACP). The Indian government recently conferred the Laboratory Scientist
of the Year Award, 2012–2013 and the prestigious DRDO’s Scientist of the
Year Award, 2013.
