On “intention” in the Definition of Suicide
Abstract
The need for a comprehensive nomenclature in suicidology is now well recognized. In this paper the focus is on the issue of intention, which is identified as an essential aspect of any definition of suicide and suicidal behavior primarily because of its distinction from accidental behavior. The distinction between the retrospective perspective of motives versus the prospective perspective of intentions is highlighted, and I argue that the latter is more closely related to suicidal behavior. Finally, while motives and intentions tend to be used together in research, there is a need for sound research to clarify the roles of intentions in order to better understand suicide and attempted suicide.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Poisoning is a relevant public health issue responsible for a considerable number of cases of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“Poisoning is a relevant public health issue responsible for a considerable number of cases of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries [1].”
From Toxicological Findings of Self-Poisoning Suicidal Deaths: A Systematic Review by Countries (2022) · cites this paper as [1]
Cites
Silverman, M. M., Berman, A. L., Sanddal, N. D., O'Carroll, P. W., & Joiner, T. E. (2007) · Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior · doi:10.1521/suli.2007.37.3.248 · Cited by 593 · see citing works
Shneidman, E. S. (1996) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195103663.001.0001 · Cited by 307 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Silverman, M. M., Berman, A. L., Sanddal, N. D., O'Carroll, P. W., & Joiner, T. E. (2007) · Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior · doi:10.1521/suli.2007.37.3.248 · Cited by 593 · see citing works
“…O’Carroll et al. (1996) nomenclature sparked a revitalizationdisorder (attempters were more likely than those dying by suicide to have a current diag- in addressing the language of suicidology and its conceptual foundations (Andriessen, 2006;nosis of anxiety disorder and to be socially isolated).”
BackgroundStandardized Screening for Suicidal Adolescents in Primary Care
Wintersteen, M. (2010) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2458 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Toxicological Findings of Self-Poisoning Suicidal Deaths: A Systematic Review by Countries
Albano, G. D., Malta, G., La Spina, C., Rifiorito, A., Provenzano, V., Triolo, V., Vaiano, F., Bertol, E., Zerbo, S., & Argo, A. (2022) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics10110654 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
“Poisoning is a relevant public health issue responsible for a considerable number of cases of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries [1].”
BackgroundThe dimensionality of suicidal ideation and its clinical implications
Baertschi, M., Costanza, A., Canuto, A., & Weber, K. (2018) · International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1002/mpr.1755 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
“…recently approached as a transition from ideation to action (Klonsky & May, 2014; Klonsky, Saffer, & Bryan, 2018), and a clear distinction between suicidal desire with and without intent to die has been established (Andriessen, 2006; Posner et al., 2007; , Fondation de Nant, Avenue 21 965 76 00.”
BackgroundJaworski, K. (2010) · Australian Feminist Studies · doi:10.1080/08164640903499752 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Challenges in Assessing Intent to Die: Can Suicide Attempters Be Trusted?
Freedenthal, S. L. (2007) · OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying · doi:10.2190/5867-6510-3388-3517 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
“Several researchers differentiate “intent” from “motive,” noting that intent applies to the desired outcome of an act, and motive applies to the underlying reasons for that intent (Andriessen, 2006; Hjelmeland & Knizek, 1999).”
BackgroundTrend and epidemiology of suicide attempts by self-poisoning among Egyptians
Kasemy, Z. A., Sharif, A. F., Amin, S. A., Fayed, M. M., Desouky, D. E., Salama, A. A., Abo Shereda, H. M., & Abdel-Aaty, N. B. (2022) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0270026 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
“Suicide methods vary worldwide based on socio-cultural backgrounds and differences in legislation between countries which not only affect the suicide rate but also suicide methods [5, 6].”
BackgroundThe author, agency and suicide
Jaworski, K. (2010) · Social Identities · doi:10.1080/13504630.2010.509572 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
“some exceptions, takes place in private (Andriessen, 2006; Hasley et al., 2008).”
BackgroundWho Seeks Treatment Where? Suicidal Behaviors and Health Care
Milner, A. J., & Leo, D. D. (2010) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0b013e3181e07905 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
“These persons may also be experiencing some ambivalence about the wish to die, regardless of the reported intent behind the action (Andriessen, 2006).”
BackgroundDeas, N., Kowalski, R., Finnell, S., Radovic, E., Carroll, H., Robbins, C., Cook, A., Hurley, K. J., Cote, N., Evans, K., et al. (2022) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2022.107499 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Suicide, Agency and the Limits of Power 1
Jaworski, K. (2016) · doi:10.4324/9781315611297-10 · Cited by 32
“Chapter 10 Suicide, Agency and the Limits of Power1 Katrina Jaworski Suicide is commonly understood as an explicitly individual choice and act (Andriessen 2006).”
BackgroundSun, F., Long, A., Huang, X., & Chiang, C. (2011) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03503.x · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Severity of Attempted Suicide as Measured by the Pierce Suicidal Intent Scale
Sisask, M., Kõlves, K., & Värnik, A. (2009) · Crisis · doi:10.1027/0227-5910.30.3.136 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“…expressed wish to be dead, but there are also nonsuicidal conscious or unconscious purposes, such as trying to manipulate others or escape from an intolerable situation (Andriessen, 2006; Hjelmeland, 1995; Hjelmeland & Hawton, 2004; Hjelmeland & Knizek, 1999; Michel, Valach, & Waeber, 1994).”
InfluentialThe Psychological Autopsy, Part II: Toward a Standardized Protocol
Knoll, J. L. (2009) · Journal of Psychiatric Practice · doi:10.1097/01.pra.0000344920.36157.95 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Problems with the coronial determination of ‘suicide’
Tait, G., Carpenter, B., de Leo, D., & Tatz, C. (2015) · Mortality · doi:10.1080/13576275.2015.1012489 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“Andriessen (2006) points to a range of problems with the issue, including the assertion that it is too vague a notion to be included in any valid definition; that suicidal people can have a range of intentions at the same time; that intentions can shift throughout the course of a suicidal event;…”
BackgroundA concept analysis of suicidal behavior.
Sun, F.-K. (2011) · Public Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1525-1446.2011.00939.x · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Suicide prevention in first-episode psychosis
Power, P., & Robinson, J. (2009) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511576287.016 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Sprio, V., Mirra, L., Madeddu, F., López‐Castromán, J., Blasco-Fontecilla, H., Pierro, R. D., & Calati, R. (2024) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.02.017 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Zuriaga, A., Kaplan, M. S., Choi, N. G., Hodkinson, A., Storman, D., Brudasca, N. I., Hirani, S. P., & Brini, S. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.005 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Chen, L.-R., Wang, G., Xie, G.-D., He, Y., Chen, S.-S., Yuan, M., Chang, J.-J., Li, Y., & Su, P. (2020) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.048 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Suicide Prevention in Early Psychosis
Power, P. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444318814.ch20 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Ougrin, D., & Zundel, T. (2009) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b13320-6 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Les « fonctions suicidaires » : revue de la littérature et perspectives
Gatelet, R., Hardy, P., & Bungener, C. (2011) · L Encéphale · doi:10.1016/j.encep.2011.06.002 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Yelo, D., Parkes, A., Freeman, J., & Davey, J. D. (2021) · Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour · doi:10.1016/j.trf.2021.06.015 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Hughes, A., & Pitman, A. (2026) · Crisis · doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a001044 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Yet inferring intent is extremely challenging, particularly in settings where the cultural validity of survey measures is in question (Andriessen, 2006) or where the cognitive and physical availability of highly lethal methods obscures whether an act was intended to be fatal (Moran et al., 2024).”
Isnar, S., & Oremus, M. (2022) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114433 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“2 expectation of bringing about death (Andriessen, 2006).”
InfluentialLashin, H. I., Helal, N. E., Mahran, M. M., & Sharif, A. F. (2025) · Legal Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102654 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Motives for deliberate self-harm in a South African tertiary hospital
van Zyl, P. J. J., Bantjes, J. R., Breet, E., & Lewis, I. (2021) · South African Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1524 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Road vehicle collision suicide in Australia: Trends, collision types, and individual characteristics
Law, P., Too, L., Spittal, M., Pirkis, J., & Clapperton, A. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0299590 · Cited by 2
Factors associated with serious intent to die among suicide attempters in Hungary
Horváth, O. N., Tóth, M. D., Ádám, S., & Purebl, G. (2020) · International Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/inm.12695 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Thus, the classification of suicide attempts has always been a challenging topic (Andriessen 2006; Silverman et al. 2007).”
BackgroundNieradko-Heluszko, A., Rył, A., Giezek, M., & Karakiewicz, B. (2026) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1810162 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-injury and Its Criminal Correlates among Hungarian Juvenile Offenders
Bellavics, M. Z., Baráth, N. E., & Haller, J. (2023) · Magyar Rendészet · doi:10.32577/mr.2023.1.6 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“But when the person has already thought through the details of a potential suicide, e.g. the time and place, the surroundings should be alarmed.10 4 Andriessen 2006: 533–538.”
Kanyange, C. T., & Sætnan, A. R. (2022) · OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying · doi:10.1177/00302228221139354 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“However, Suicidal intent is a signi fi cant, crucial element to understand suicidal behavior (Andriessen, 2006; Karl, 2006).”
Four Funerals and a Wedding: Suicide, Sacrifice, and (Non-)Human Agency in a Siberian Village
Broz, L. (2016) · doi:10.4324/9781315611297-5 · Cited by 1
The ‘Mad’ Intentions of Those Who Suicide
Jaworski, K. (2012) · doi:10.1163/9781848880986_005 · Cited by 1
Reviewing the Options: Noise, Adaptation, and By-Product
Soper, C. A. (2018) · Evolutionary psychology · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77300-1_2 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Reframing the Self and Agency in Suicide: A Composite Theoretical Approach
Jaworski, K., & Broz, L. (2013) · doi:10.1163/9781848882195_011 · Cited by 1
Zulyniak, S., Dimitropoulos, G., Chan, E. C., & Patten, S. B. (2026) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/07067437261480922
Incidence of Suicide by Hanging in Klang Valley from 2007 to 2016
Hamzah, N. H., Hamzah, S. P. A. A., & Karim, S. F. A. (2018) · doi:10.17576/jskm-2018-1602-10
“Second, a suicide act must either be active or passive self-harm and finally a suicide victim must have the intent or an expectation to die (Andriessen 2006; Rosenberg et al. 1988).”
BackgroundManagement of the Suicidal Patient
Melvin, G. A., Posner, K., Stanley, B., & Oquendo, M. A. (2015) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118753378.ch125
Management of the Suicidal Patient
Melvin, G. A., Posner, K., Stanley, B., & Oquendo, M. A. (2008) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470515167.ch116 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The Gendering of Suicidal Agency in Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides
Jaworski, K. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-69392-3_4 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Andriessen, K.
- Corresponding author
- Andriessen, Karl
- ORCID
- Andriessen, Karl
- Venue
- Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-10
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 533-538
- ISSN
- 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-278X
- OpenAlex
- W2155046796
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Keywords
- intention, suicidal behavior, suicide attempts, motives, nomenclature, suicidology
- MeSH terms
- Forensic Psychiatry, Humans, Terminology as Topic, Suicide, Intention
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
