Cited by 775Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesPsychological Treatments and DisordersMental Health and Psychiatry

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Commentary: Suicide as Psychache

SHNEIDMAN, EDWIN S.·1993·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

DOI 10.1097/00005053-199303000-00001

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Suizidalität bei Adoleszenten – Prävention und Behandlung
Berger, G. E., Casa, A. D., & Pauli, D. (2015) · Therapeutische Umschau · doi:10.1024/0040-5930/a000728 · Cited by 6
Psychological distress and emotional pain among adult attendees of a dental clinic: a case-control study
Erinfolami, A. R., Olagunju, A. T., Oshodi, Y., Akinbode, A. A., Fadipe, B., & Adeyemo, W. L. (2016) · Mental Illness · doi:10.4081/mi.2016.6006 · Cited by 7
Hypoactivity in the Paraterminal Gyrus Following Bilateral Anterior Capsulotomy
Hurwitz, T. A., Honey, C. R., McLeod, K. R., Poologaindran, A., & Kuan, A. J. (2019) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0706743719874181 · Cited by 6
Validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the tolerance for mental pain scale-10
Demirkol, M. E., Tamam, L., Namlı, Z., & Davut, Ö. E. (2019) · Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1080/24750573.2019.1699309 · Cited by 8
“Shneidman [16] suggested that the inability to tolerate psychache is a significant risk factor for suicide.”
BackgroundInfluential
Perspectives of the performance metrics in lexicon and hybrid based approaches: a review
Rani, M. S., & Subramanian, S. (2017) · International Journal of Engineering & Technology · doi:10.14419/ijet.v6i4.8295 · Cited by 6
Suicidal Behaviour Among Nigerian Undergraduates: Associations with Gambling Disorder and Emotional Dysregulation
Akpunne, B. C., Akinnawo, E. O., Akpunne, S. I., & Kumuyi, D. O. (2022) · Health Scope · doi:10.5812/jhealthscope-121797 · Cited by 7
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Parents Caring for Children with Disabilities and Long-Term Illnesses
O’Dwyer, S., Sansom, A., Mars, B., Reakes, L., Andrewartha, C., Melluish, J., Walker, A., Biddle, L., Slater, T., Burrows, D. B., et al. (2024) · Archives of Suicide Research · doi:10.1080/13811118.2024.2363230 · Cited by 5
“The choice of measures was informed by existing theories of suicide (Durkheim, 2006; O’Connor & Kirtley, 2018; Shneidman, 1993; Van Orden et al., 2010), the risk and protective factors identified in studies of suicide risk in other groups of carers, and feedback from parent carers and the charities…”
The role of anxiety for youth experiencing suicide-related behaviors
Covert, D., & Fraire, M. G. (2019) · Children s Health Care · doi:10.1080/02739615.2019.1630284 · Cited by 7
“These disorders are identified by aversive and avoidant reactions to emotional experiences (Barlow, Sauer-Zavala, Carl, Bullis, & Ellard, 2014) and, similar to suicide-related behaviors, can be conceptualized through avoidant or escape-oriented responses to emotional experiences (Baumeister, 1990; Boergers, Spirito, &…”
Background
Dinamika psikologis penyintas Pulung Gantung di Gunung Kidul
Budiarto, S., Sugiarto, R., & Putrianti, F. G. (2020) · Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat · doi:10.24854/jpu112 · Cited by 6
Pessoas idosas tentam suicídio para chamar atenção?
Gutierrez, D. M. D., Minayo, M. C. D. S., Sousa, A. B. L., et al. (2020) · Saúde e Sociedade · doi:10.1590/s0104-12902020190659 · Cited by 6
The Emotion Self-Confidence Model of Suicidal Ideation
Deeley, S. T., & Love, A. W. (2012) · Advances in Mental Health · doi:10.5172/jamh.2012.10.3.246 · Cited by 6
Suicidal behavior during economic hard times
Elliott, M., Naphan, D. E., & Kohlenberg, B. L. (2014) · International Journal of Social Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0020764014556391 · Cited by 6
“Suicide often occurs when individuals perceive that their psychological pain is intolerable (Shneidman, 1993), a theme expressed quite vividly in the novels of Fyodor Dostoyevky (Foy & Rojcewicz, 1979).”
Background
Reflections of a Committed Suicidologist
Pompili, M. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47976-7_2 · Cited by 6
Buprenorphine use for pain and suicidal ideation in severely suicidal patients
Gibbs, H. M., Price, D., Delgado, P., Clothier, J., & Cáceda, R. (2020) · International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine · doi:10.1177/0091217420913396 · Cited by 6
Mental pain intensity and tolerance as predictors of psychotherapy process and outcome
Grossman‐Giron, A., Becker, G., Kivity, Y., Shalev, S., & Bitan, D. T. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.23085 · Cited by 6
When Suicide Is at Stake: Some Thoughts on the Therapeutic Space between Therapists and Adolescents
Gvion, Y., & Fachler, A. (2017) · Journal of Infant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy · doi:10.1080/15289168.2017.1377579 · Cited by 6
Developing the Pieta House Suicide Intervention Model: a quasi-experimental, repeated measures design
Surgenor, P. W. G., Freeman, J., & O'Connor, C. (2015) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-015-0071-6 · Cited by 6
The use of electroconvulsive therapy in Québec
Banken, R. (2003) · Cited by 6
Are Suicide Attempters Wired Differently?: A Comparison With Nonsuicidal Depressed Individuals Using Plan Analysis.
Brüdern, J., Berger, T., Michel, K., Gysin-Maillart, A., Held, I. S., & Caspar, F. (2015) · BORIS (University Library Bern) · doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000321 · Cited by 5
The Relationship Between Psychological Pain, Spiritual Well-Being, and Social Support in Turkish Women Undergoing Therapeutic or Elective Abortion
Yılmaz, F. A., & Avcı, D. (2024) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-024-02087-4 · Cited by 5
Step by Step? Understanding Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Among University Students in Aotearoa New Zealand: Utility of the Three–Step Theory of Suicide
Schimanski, I., Scarf, D., Rapsey, C. M., Treharne, G. J., & Mason, A. (2024) · Journal of College Student Mental Health · doi:10.1080/28367138.2024.2407428 · Cited by 5
“The 13-item Scale of Psychache (Holden et al., 2001) assessed self-perceived emotional or mental pain (e.g., “I seem to ache inside”), as conceptualized by Shneidman (1993).”
Proposition of Two Subtypes of Patients at Risk of Suicide: Pain Hypersensitive Vs. Dissociative
Bianco, F., Courtet, P., Olié, É., López‐Castromán, J., Madeddu, F., & Calati, R. (2025) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-025-01600-0 · Cited by 7
Biological research on mental pain, social pain and other pains not primarily felt in the body: methodological systematic review
Duranté, E. K., Ribeiro, A., Gaspard-Boulinc, L., Boutron, I., Henry, C., Petit, A., Houenou, J., Lemogne, C., & Chevance, A. (2025) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.2024.292 · Cited by 6
“A range of different terms are used by researchers to refer to experiences described as painful yet without being primarily felt in the body, such as ‘ mental pain ’ 1 , ‘ social pain ’ 2,3 , ‘ emotional pain ’ 1 , ‘ psychological pain ’ 1,4,5 and ‘ psychache ’ 6 .”
Cyberbullying victimization and suicidal ideation among college students: the mediating role of psychological pain and the moderating role of school bonding
Liu, X., & Liu, X. (2025) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-025-07007-8 · Cited by 8
“Depression and other negative emotions aggravate PP, and if it reaches an unbearable level, one may begin to feel a sense of hope-lessness, which can lead to them considering suicide as a means to escape their suffering [16, 17, 55].”
Does Self‐Compassion Moderate the Relationship Between Emotional Problems and Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury in Adolescence? A Moderated Network Analysis
Xue, S., Lu, A., Zhu, K., Chen, J., Li, X., Wang, X., & Liang, Y. (2025) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.70002 · Cited by 7
Prevalence and correlates of suicide risk among non-psychiatric inpatients in a general hospital in China
Liao, J., Rosenheck, R. A., Sun, B., et al. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.072 · Cited by 5
An In-Depth Exploration of the Relationship Between Suicidal Ideation and Emotion Processes in Adolescents
Al‐Dajani, N., Arango, A., Kentopp, S. D., Jiang, A., & Czyz, E. K. (2024) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2024.02.002 · Cited by 6
Intolerance of Uncertainty Predicts Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents Through Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Psychache
Wu, J., Wang, C., Zheng, Y., Han, X., Guo, J., Cui, Y., Hu, J., Lin, M., & You, J. (2025) · Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior · doi:10.1111/sltb.70001 · Cited by 7
Mediation effect of anxious attachment on relationship between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation sensitive to psychological pain levels
Ihme, H., Courtet, P., Risch, N., Dubois, J., Belzeaux-R, R., & Olié, É. (2023) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2452 · Cited by 6
“H3: Social pain has conditional mediating effect on the mediation of CT, attachment, and suicidal ideation, with a mediating effect of attachment sensitive to the level of experienced social pain.”
Background
Suicidality in the Light of Schema Therapy Constructs, i.e., Early Maladaptive Schema and Schema Modes: A Longitudinal Study
Grażka, A., Królewiak, K., Sójta, K., & Strzelecki, D. (2023) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm12216755 · Cited by 5
“Several theories (inter alia [4,6,10–13, 16])”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Depression in older women who died by suicide: associations with other suicide contributors and suicide methods
Choi, N. G., & Marti, C. N. (2023) · Journal of Women & Aging · doi:10.1080/08952841.2023.2292164 · Cited by 6
“Psychological pain or psychache—a perception of inability or deficiency of the self, as well as frustrated psychological needs and social disconnection—is a prominent dimension of depression that can lead to suicide as a means of escaping from pain (Meerwijk & Weiss, 2014; Shneidman, 1993).”
Background
The contributions of university chaplains, as spiritual care professionals, to suicide prevention: results from a European expert panel
Saliba, S. M. (2024) · Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/19349637.2024.2341079 · Cited by 5
“Suicide is often the result of a complex interplay of numerous factors (Blumenthal & Kupfer, 1986; Mann & Arango, 1992; O’Connor & Kirtley, 2018; Shneidman, 1993).”
Suicide progression and influencing factors in Chinese adolescents: A latent transition analysis
Wang, X., Wang, Z., Lu, K., He, J., & He, J. (2024) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107762 · Cited by 5
Psychological Risk Factors in the Transition from Suicidal Ideation to Suicidal Behavior in Young Adults
Yöyen, E., & Keleş, M. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12181850 · Cited by 5
Weaponization of the body and politicization of death
Movahedi, S. (2009) · Revista Latinoamericana de Psicopatologia Fundamental · doi:10.1590/s1415-47142009000100006 · Cited by 5
Mental Pain in Israeli Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors and Its Effects on their Quality of Life
Raz, H., & Tabak, N. (2016) · Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.4172/2161-0487.1000258 · Cited by 4
Psychopathology and risk factors for suicide in the young
Orbach, I., & Barak, M. I. (2009) · doi:10.1093/med/9780198570059.003.0087 · Cited by 5
The Development of a Multidimensional Inventory for the Assessment of Mental Pain (FESSTE 30)
Flenreiss-Frankl, K., Fuchshuber, J., & Unterrainer, . (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.656862 · Cited by 5
“If these basic needs are not sufficiently met, a mixture of different negative emotional states such as guilt, shame, loss, despair, loneliness, grief, hopelessness, and anger occurs (Shneidman, 1993).”
Background
Insights into the processes of suicide contagion: narratives from young people bereaved by suicide
Bell, J., Stanley, N., Mallon, S. D., & Manthorpe, J. (2015) · Open Research Online (The Open University) · Cited by 5
Fusion of pain avoidance and the contingent negative variation induced by punitive condition predict suicide ideation in a college population
Song, W., Li, H., Sun, F., Wei, S., Wen, X., & Ouyang, L. (2022) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114210 · Cited by 5
The Importance of Timing, Fundamental Attitudes, and Appropriate Interventions as Key Aspects of Chaplain Suicide Prevention: A European Expert Panel of Mental Health Chaplains
Saliba, S. M., Fält, B., O'Connell, D., Sjöberg, T., Sørensen, U. B. H., Steegen, M., Turner, J., & Vandenhoeck, A. (2022) · Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Advancing theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective publications · doi:10.1177/15423050221141047 · Cited by 5
“It is important to note that suicidal behaviour is often the result of a complex interplay of numerous factors (Blumenthal & Kupfer, 1986, p. 329; Shneidman, 1993, p. 147; Mann & Arango, 1992, p. 2S; O’Connor & Kirtley, 2018).”
Background
The Mediating Role of Tolerance for Psychological Pain in the Relationship Between Different Types of Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Suicidal Ideation
Passos, B., Campos, R. C., Reixa, C., & Holden, R. R. (2023) · OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying · doi:10.1177/00302228231169148 · Cited by 8
“Psychache is a special form of psychological pain, that is, an extreme pain associated with negative emotions, such as feelings of guilt, humiliation, fear, panic, loneliness, and helplessness and arises when the individual ’ s basic psychological needs are not met (Shneidman, 1993; 1998).”
When Suicide is Not Suicide: Self-induced Morbidity and Mortality in the General Hospital
Bostwick, J. M. (2015) · Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal · doi:10.5041/rmmj.10197 · Cited by 5
Applied Resiliency and Suicide Prevention: A Strengths-Based, Risk-Reduction Framework
Hirsch, J. K., Rabon, J. K., & Chang, E. C. (2018) · Advances in mental health and addiction · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-03225-8_13 · Cited by 6
Case Report: Buprenorphine—A Treatment for Psychological Pain and Suicidal Ideation?
Benhamou, O.-M. J., Lynch, S. T., & Klepacz, L. (2020) · American Journal on Addictions · doi:10.1111/ajad.13063 · Cited by 5
Hopelessness as a Predictor of Attempted Suicide among First Admission Patients with Psychosis: A 10-year Cohort Study
Klonsky, E. D., Kotov, R., Bakst, S. S., Rabinowitz, J., & Bromet, E. J. (2012) · Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior · doi:10.1111/j.1943-278x.2011.0066.x · Cited by 4
Protecting Partial-Hospitalization Patients From Suicide
Freed, P. E., & Rudolph, S. (1998) · Perspectives In Psychiatric Care · doi:10.1111/j.1744-6163.1998.tb01222.x · Cited by 5
Suicide in schizophrenia. What are we going to do about it?
Pompili, M., Ruberto, A., Girardi, P., & Tatarelli, R. (2004) · PubMed · Cited by 5
Prospective Study of Psychache and Its Relationship to Suicidality
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Grief Reactions and Suicide Bereavement in the Context of Stigma among Parents: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Ali, U., & Rehna, T. (2023) · Annales Médico-psychologiques, revue psychiatrique · doi:10.1016/j.amp.2022.04.016 · Cited by 5
Suicidal behaviors among refugee women in Jordan: post-traumatic stress disorder, social support and post-displacement stressors
Brooks, M. A., Dasgupta, A., Khadra, M., Bawaneh, A., Kaushal, N., & El‐Bassel, N. (2024) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-024-20128-1 · Cited by 6
Hope and death obsession after the Maras earthquake: Psychological inflexibility and psychache as serial mediators
Karaağaç, Z. G., Deniz, M. E., Erişen, Y., Bırni, G., Satıcı, B., & Kaya, Y. (2025) · International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction · doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105416 · Cited by 7
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“The significance of examining psychological pain is also reflected in theoretical models of suicide, such as Shneidman’s (1993) theory, which emphasizes psychache (i.e., mental or psychological pain) as the key motivator for suicide attempts [44].”
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Hébert, M., Tremblay‐Perreault, A., & Dassylva, O. (2025) · Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1080/15299732.2025.2542129 · Cited by 4
“Emotional dysregulation is theorized to contribute to STB notably by impairing capacity to manage intense negative affect, to cope with distress, and to manage impulsivity, which could lead someone to consider suicide as a means to escape suffering (Linehan, 1993; Shneidman, 1993).”
Review of The Evolution of Life Worth Living: Why we choose to live
Wong, P. T. P. (2022) · International Journal of Wellbeing · doi:10.5502/ijw.v12i3.2395 · Cited by 4
Klinik Sosyal Hizmet Alanında İntiharın Yeri
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Psychosocial Factors Distinguishing Men Who Have Attempted Suicide From Men With Suicidal Ideation and Non-suicidal Men: Findings From a Global Survey
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“Psychological pain is fundamental to most theories of suicide (Baumeister, 1990; Joiner, 2005; Shneidman, 1993).”
Psychometric evaluation of the Psychache Scale: A multigroup comparison between white and hispanic undergraduate student drinkers
Boye, C. M., Botor, N. J. B., Tuliao, A. P., & Webb, J. R. (2024) · Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse · doi:10.1080/15332640.2024.2366965 · Cited by 5
“At its inception, psychache was defined as “the hurt, anguish, soreness, aching, psychological pain in the psyche” and viewed as a cause of suicide (Shneidman, 1993, p. 145); indeed, it can lead to the desire or need for a permanent escape from such pain (i.e., suicide or cessation of…”
Emotion word repertoire in the adult attachment interview is linked to reduced suicide attempts in patients with borderline personality disorder
Fuchshuber, J., Doering, S., Schmitz-Riol, S., Herpertz, J., Buchheim, A., Hörz‐Sagstetter, S., Rentrop, M., Fischer‐Kern, M., Buchheim, P., Taylor, J., et al. (2024) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36907 · Cited by 5
Frontal Activity of Recent Suicide Attempters: EEG spectrum Power Performing Raven Task
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“It facilitates connecting individual behaviors with broader societal dynamics, particularly in how governmental institutions legiti-mize decisions — such as public social expenditures on welfare states — to address the psychological distress associated with suicide (Shneidman, 1993, 2001).”
Examining the association between psychological resilience and chronic versus discrete stressors among individuals who use opioids in Baltimore, Maryland
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“The psychological pain theory of suicide (Shneidman 1993) claims that following stressors, when an individual's psychological pain reaches intolerable and unacceptable levels, suicide is viewed as the only solution to escape the pain.”
The interplay between childhood trauma, hopelessness, depressive symptoms, and mental pain in a large sample of patients with severe mental disorders: A network analysis
Barlati, S., Innamorati, M., Vita, A., Nibbio, G., Erbuto, D., Sarubbi, S., VECCHIO, V. D., Luciano, M., Sampogna, G., Daga, G. A., et al. (2025) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.185 · Cited by 5
Exploring the meaning of life and perception of death: a phenomenological study of the psychological experiences of Chinese adolescent patients who attempted suicide
Miao, Q., Li, J., Wang, X., Qiu, L., & Li, Y. (2025) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2025.2519240 · Cited by 4
“In 1993, Shneidman’s model of psychological pain states that individuals who feel a sense of meaninglessness experience greater psychological pain, ultimately resulting in suicide (Shneidman, 1993).”
Reconstructing the final narrative: how psychological autopsies reconstruct the final narratives of youth across diverse sociocultural context
Gay, M. (2025) · Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies · doi:10.1080/17450128.2025.2539730 · Cited by 4
“Guided by narrative identity theory (McAdams, 2011), existential suicidology (Shneidman, 1993; A. A. Leenaars, 1999), and I. I. Galynker’s (2023), this study interprets psychological autopsy data not merely as epidemiological evidence, but as windows into disrupted selfhood, fractured timelines,…”
Influential
Suicide in Ancient Hindu Scriptures: Condemned or Glorified?
Nrugham, L. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-10-4816-6_2 · Cited by 4
Psychological pain and self-harming behaviours in an adulthood community sample: An exploratory study
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Suicide Risk Assessment, Management, and Mitigation in the Emergency Setting
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Do bipolar disorder symptom profiles matter for suicide risk? A latent class approach to investigating differences in suicidal desire and acquired capability
Freitag, S. L., Au, J. S., Liu, D. Y., Mekawi, Y., & Lamis, D. A. (2023) · Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior · doi:10.1111/sltb.13013 · Cited by 4
Ból psychiczny — konceptualizacja i narzędzia pomiaru
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Theorizing Suicide: Multiple Perspectives and Implications for Prevention
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Assessing Perturbation and Suicide in Families
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Suicidio e suicidologia: uno sguardo al futuro
Pompili, M., & Tatarelli, R. (2007) · IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) · Cited by 3
Recognition and Treatment of Suicidal Youth: Broadening Our Research Agenda
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Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm
Keogh, B. (2015) · doi:10.1007/978-1-137-50627-6_2 · Cited by 5
Alcohol and Suicide Risk: Examining the Role of Meaning-Making
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“For example, meaning-making is thought to help mitigate the burden of “psychache,” defined as “the blockage, thwarting, or frustration of certain psychological needs believed [… ] to be vital to continued life” (Shneidman, 1993, p. 145).”
Background
Psychological autopsies
PRIDMORE, S. A., & Walter, G. (2013) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0004867413495929 · Cited by 4
An idiographic approach to understanding suicide in the young
Berman, A. L. (2003) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511550423.009 · Cited by 3
The Utopian Pursuit of Death
Movahedi, S. (1999) · American imago · doi:10.1353/aim.1999.0003 · Cited by 4
Self Esteem Deficits and Suicidal Tendencies Among Psychiatric Patients
Rizwan, M. (2010) · HEC National Digital Library · Cited by 4
Rumination as a within-person indirect pathway between daily negative life events and suicidal ideation in recently hospitalized adults
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“Distress associated with negative life events has been described in multiple theories of suicide as a key causal process in suicide risk (Baumeister, 1990; Shneidman, 1993).”
The Journal’s concerns about suicide
Snowdon, J. A. (2017) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0004867417691362 · Cited by 3
Socio-Psychological Factors of Rising Trend of Suicidal Ideation among Indigenous Workforce: Evidence from Himalayan Range
Ullah, Z., AlDhaen, E. S., AlDhaen, F. S., Chua, B., & Han, H. (2023) · International Journal of Mental Health Promotion · doi:10.32604/ijmhp.2023.030577 · Cited by 3
New pharmacotherapies to tackle the unmet needs in bipolar disorder: a focus on acute suicidality
Kotzalidis, G. D., Fiaschè, F., Alcibiade, A., Monti, L., Segni, F. D., Mazza, M., & Sani, G. (2024) · Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1080/14656566.2024.2334425 · Cited by 3
Suicide warning signs of self-identification in patients with mood disorders: a qualitative analysis based on safety planning
Zhang, H., Zhu, J., Niu, L., Zeng, M., Chen, T., Chen, Y., Hou, X., Tao, H., Ma, Y., Lin, K., et al. (2024) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417817 · Cited by 4
“Similarly, Shneidman’s (36) theory of suicide describes psychache (i.e., emotional or psychological pain) as the primary motivator of a suicide attempt (37).”
Background
What Is Mental Pain? A Systematic Review and Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research on the Lived Experience of Mental Pain
Kozlowitz, S., Ribeiro, A., Sibéoni, J., Brossard, B., & Chevance, A. (2025) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000548567 · Cited by 4
Manifest Dream Content as a Possible Predictor of Suicidality
Glucksman, M. L. (2014) · Psychodynamic Psychiatry · doi:10.1521/pdps.2014.42.4.657 · Cited by 3
Raising doubt about the anticipated consequences of suicidal behavior: Evidence for a new approach from laboratory and real-world experiments
Ribeiro, J. D., Linthicum, K. P., Harris, L. M., Bryen, C. P., & Broshek, C. E. (2021) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2021.103971 · Cited by 3
Dynamic Regulatory Processes in the Transition From Suicidal Ideation to Action in Adults Leaving Inpatient Psychiatric Care: Protocol for an Intensive Longitudinal Study
Victor, S. E., Christensen, K., Johnson, S. L., Allen, J. V., & Brick, L. A. D. (2022) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/38582 · Cited by 3
Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric investigation of Chinese version of the Orbach & Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale in patients with depressive disorder
Cheng, Y., Chen, S., Zhao, W., Zhang, G., Wang, T., Wang, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2022) · Quality of Life Research · doi:10.1007/s11136-022-03292-y · Cited by 3
Risk factors and protective factors of suicidal behavior in people diagnosed with depression
Kucharska, K., & Gajewski, R. (2023) · Kwartalnik Naukowy Fides et Ratio · doi:10.34766/fetr.v56i4.1227 · Cited by 5
Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Version of the Orbach Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale-8 in a Clinical Population
Demirkol, M. E., Tamam, L., Namlı, Z., Yeşiloğlu, C., & Yılmaz, H. (2024) · Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · doi:10.2147/ndt.s449012 · Cited by 4
“11 Following Shneidman’s pioneering work, new definitions of psychological pain have been suggested, incorporating terms such as mental, psychic, and emotional pain.”
Background
Development of a Subtle Screening for Suicidal Ideation: Psychometric Characteristics and Implications for Family Therapists
Killian, K. D. (2024) · Contemporary Family Therapy · doi:10.1007/s10591-024-09705-z · Cited by 3
“Originally proposed by Shneidman (1993), psychache has been defined as an experience of deep and desperate emotional pain and is a frequent theme of suicide notes (Li et al., 2014).”
Positive psychological functioning, resilience and styles of coping as buffers against suicidal behaviours. A case-control study.
Caredda, M., Vescera, L., Picardi, A., Tarolla, E., Pancheri, C., Biondi, M., & Tondo, L. (2024) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.223 · Cited by 2
Risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation among Saudi adolescents: A network analysis
Keshky, M. E. S. E. (2024) · International Journal of Social Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/00207640241277164 · Cited by 3
“The psychological pain theory of suicide as postulated by Shneidman (1993) posits that suicide is perceived as the only solution to find peace when the psychache becomes unacceptable and intolerable.”
Investigation of Psychosocial, Clinical Outcomes of Individuals with Limb Loss After Earthquakes
Sehlikoğlu, Ş., & Çiçek, N. (2024) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325024.2024.2402384 · Cited by 4
The role of suicidal motivations in adolescence: implications for the psychotherapeutic treatment of suicidal risk
Casini, M. P., Moselli, M., Wisniewski, A., & Williams, R. (2024) · Research in Psychotherapy Psychopathology Process and Outcome · doi:10.4081/ripppo.2024.833 · Cited by 4
The impact of paternity-maternity matching on suicide risk among college students: a response surface analysis
Zhan, Y., & Jing, W. (2025) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-025-06715-5 · Cited by 3

Authors: SHNEIDMAN, E. S.
Affiliations: University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author: SHNEIDMAN, EDWIN S.
Venue: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published: 1993-03
Volume: 181
Issue: 3
Pages: 145-147
ISSN: 0022-3018 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1097/00005053-199303000-00001
OpenAlex: W2224716391
Cited by: 775
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 39 · 2025: 84 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 20
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Disorders
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
Keywords: suicide, emotional pain, psychological suffering
MeSH terms: Depressive Disorder, Frustration, Happiness, Humans, Models, Psychological, Pain, Personality, Q-Sort, Stress, Psychological, Suicide

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