Exploring the ambivalence model of suicidality among Iranian patients: a qualitative study with suicide attempters - Report - MDSpire

Exploring the ambivalence model of suicidality among Iranian patients: a qualitative study with suicide attempters

  • By

  • Kaveh Qaderi-Bagajan

  • Zahra Asgari

  • Matin Khanpayeh

  • Johanna Freund

  • Tobias Teismann

  • Lena Marie Hensel

  • July 15, 2026

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Clinical Report: Investigating the Ambivalence Model of Suicidality in Iranian Suicide Attempters

Overview

This qualitative study explores the experiences of Iranian suicide attempters through the Ambivalence Model of Suicidality (ABS), revealing evidence for its three phases: uncertainty, transition, and action.

Background

Suicide remains a significant global public health issue, with over 720,000 deaths annually. Understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying suicidal behavior, particularly the concept of ambivalence, is crucial.

Data Highlights

Qualitative analysis based on semi-structured interviews with 15 Iranian suicide attempters.

Key Findings

  • All three phases of the Ambivalence Model of Suicidality (ABS) were evidenced in participant narratives.
  • Ambivalence prior to the suicide attempt was reported in 13 interviews, often accompanied by feelings of exhaustion.
  • The transition phase involved sudden shifts into acute suicidality, with some participants experiencing dissociation.
  • Ambivalence persisted into the action phase of the suicidal process.

Clinical Implications

Incorporating the Ambivalence Model of Suicidality into clinical practice may provide insights for individuals at risk of suicide.

Conclusion

The study supports the relevance of the ABS in the Iranian context.

Related Resources & Content

  1. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Evaluating the follow-up care system after suicide attempt in Iran: barriers and insights from a mixed-method study
  2. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- Metacognitive model of suicidality: a study of Iranian inpatients
  3. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Validation of the Persian Brief Suicide Cognitions Scale (B-SCS): Assessing Psychometric Characteristics in Individuals Experiencing Suicidal Thoughts
  4. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Investigating Health-Seeking Patterns in Men with Previous Suicide Attempts: A Qualitative Analysis from Germany
  5. Ambivalence model of suicidality [ABS-model]: an orientation model for the treatment of suicidal individuals - PMC
  6. VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide, 2024
  7. Acute-Phase Interventions After Self-Harm for Preventing Suicide and Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PubMed
  8. Ambivalence model of suicidality [ABS-model]: an orientation model for the treatment of suicidal individuals - PMC
  9. VA/DoD_Clinical_Practice_Guideline_for_Assessment_and_Management_of_Patients_at_Risk_for_Suicide
  10. Acute-Phase Interventions After Self-Harm for Preventing Suicide and Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PubMed

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