Predicament suicide: an update.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to outline the notion of predicament suicide and progress in the field.

CONCLUSION: The term predicament suicide was initially applied when the individual without mental disorder completed suicide to escape intolerable circumstances. Subsequently, painful untreated or unresponsive mental disorder was conceptualized as an internal predicament and the term was applied to all suicide. It continues to be used in both the restricted and broad forms. Our group has substantiated the restricted form by describing suicide in the setting of financial loss, forced marriage and other predicaments. The broad form gave rise to the Operationalized Predicaments of Suicide tool for use in quantitative research. Some literature from other workers supports the general thrust of the notion.