Study of the Anti-Suicidal Barrier in Persons Who Were First and Repeatedly Detained in a Pre-Trial Detention Center

Abstract

the article presents the results of socio-psychological diagnostics of a special agent in pretrial detention centers in Moscow. The total sample included 246 male defendants, from which two equal groups were formed. In one group there were persons under investigation who had been taken into custody for the first time in an isolation cell, in the other – those who had previously had experience of staying in it. The aim was to identify the degree of formation of the anti-suicidal barrier in the defendants of both groups by such structural components as the anti-suicidal factor, the need for affiliation, hope, and resilience. Diagnostic tools included: T.N. Razuvaeva’s suicide risk test; S. Maddi’s resilience test (adapted by D.A. Leontiev); A. Beck’s Hope / Hopelessness scale; A. Mehrabyan’s affiliation test (modification of M.Sh. Magomed-Eminov). It is shown that the defendants of both groups have generally low indicators of the anti-suicidal barrier and, in particular, a low degree of desire for affiliation and the anti-suicidal factor. There were significant intergroup differences in the following parameters: the overall level of resilience and the need for affiliation (the levels of these structural components of the anti-suicidal barrier are lower in the group of people who have repeatedly been in isolation). Targets for socio-psychological prevention of suicide among the special contingent of the pre-trial detention center are proposed.