Cited by 593Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbuseMental Health and Psychiatry

Rebuilding the tower of babel: a revised nomenclature for the study of suicide and suicidal behaviors. Part 1: Background, rationale, and methodology

Silverman, Morton M., Berman, Alan L., Sanddal, Nels D., O'Carroll, Patrick W., Joiner, Thomas E.·2007·Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

Abstract

Since the publication of the O'Carroll et al. (1996) nomenclature for suicidology, there have been a number of published letters and articles, as well as an active e‐mail dialogue, in response to, and elaborating upon, this effort to establish a standard nomenclature for suicidology. This new nomenclature has been presented on a number of occasions at both national and international meetings. In this paper we provide the background, rationale, and methodology involved in the process of revising the O'Carroll et al. nomenclature, based on the feedback and discussions that have ensued over the past 10 years. Those who have written and studied the phenomenon of suicide have not defined the term so simply … how the word is defined has implications and large effects for statistics that are compiled on the official number of suicides, and for researchers, so that there is clear communication regarding what and who is being studied. Among writers in the field of suicidology there is no single common accepted definition … the term suicide refers not to a single action but more broadly to a great many varied behaviors. For example, one can speak of suicidal thoughts, intentions, ideation, gestures, attempts, completions, equivalents. Thus far, no single term, definition, or taxonomy has served to sufficiently represent the complex set of behaviors that have been suggested as suicidal. A standard set of terms and definitions are greatly needed to advance the science of suicidology and…

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Crossref · 10.1521/suli.2007.37.3.248

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Authors
Silverman, M. M., Berman, A. L., Sanddal, N. D., O'Carroll, P. W., & Joiner, T. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Chicago (US)
  • Critical Illness & Trauma Foundation (US)
  • Florida State University (US)
Corresponding author
Silverman, Morton M.
Venue
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-06
Volume
37
Issue
3
Pages
248-263
ISSN
  • 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
  • 1943-278X
OpenAlex
W2097389779
Cited by
593
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 38
FWCI
20.00
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
suicidology, nomenclature, suicidal behavior, suicide attempts, suicide completion, suicidal ideation, suicide statistics, terminology standardization
MeSH terms
Female, Humans, Male, Terminology as Topic, Suicide, Suicide, Attempted

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