The suicidal character.

Suicidal behavior is generally taken to be symptomatic in nature rather than ego-syntonic. However, any behavior which comes to be used as a means of adaptation to the world long enough tends to become ego-syntonic. There are some suicidal people for whom suicidality has become a means of securing nurturance from the interpersonal world. The usual “crisis response” to suicidality reinforces such patients in their suicidal styles. Increased long-term risk becomes the price of short-term nurturance. Specific alterations of treatment and management are indicated if such patients are to be helped to long-term survival.