自殺之理論

Theoretical Perspectives on Suicide

自殺在全世界已經成為一個嚴重的公共健康問題。然而不可能訪談自殺成功者以了解人為什麼要自殺？因此，研究者對自殺的悲劇不曾有完全的解答。證據顯示精神科護士感覺她們所受的自殺教育不夠，因此，困難地評估提供給自殺企圖者的護理品質。這篇探討四種不同自殺理論使能夠更完整了解自殺的現象，首先探討心理學理論，它包含精神分析學理論、精神社會學理論、行為理論、人性理論、認知心理學理論，心理學理論強調內在的心理衝突可導致自殺；繼之探討社會學理論，它以社會整合度和和社會關係的理論來解釋自殺行為；然後探討生物學理論，它認為自殺與血清素濃度和遺傳基因有關；最後探討哲學理論，它強調自殺的理性原因和考慮生命的目的和生活的品質。自殺是相當複雜的行為，絕非單一理論層面能解釋，因此，本篇探討不同理論層面確保一般護士和精神科護士能特別教育這四種自殺理論以提供自殺企圖者有效的自殺預防和護理。這篇文章可以影響和增進護士在自殺的教育和訓練。

Suicide is a major mental health and public health problem worldwide. However, as it is impossible to interview people who have committed suicide in attempts to enhance our understanding of why people did it, researchers will never have all of the answers to this human tragedy. Evidence demonstrates that psychiatric nurses perceived that they receive insufficient education on suicide. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the real quality of the care provided to people who have attempted suicide. This paper explores four main theoretical perspectives on the nature and causes of suicide in order to provide a more holistic and better understanding of the phenomenon known as suicide. The paper begins by exploring psychological perspectives, which include Psychoanalytic, Psychosocial, Behavioral, Humanistic and Cognitive viewpoints. The psychological perspective points to intrapsychic conflicts that could lead to suicide. Then follows the sociological perspective, which strives to explain suicidal behaviors based on theories of social integration and social relationships. The paper proceeds by examining the biological perspective, which deems that neurotransmitter serotonin levels and genetics could be related to suicide. Finally, philosophical perspectives that underline the more ‘rational’ causes of suicide are explored giving consideration to arguments relating to the nature and purpose of life as well as the quality of life. Suicide is a complex behavior that cannot be explained from only one theoretical perspective. It is essential, therefore, to examine different theoretical perspectives to ensure that nurses, generally and psychiatric nurses specifically are educated and informed in the four main theoretical perspectives on suicide in order to work at preventing suicide and providing effective therapeutic care to people who attempt suicide. This paper could be used to generate debate on the topic and influence and advance nurse education and training on suicide.