The relationship between saying prayers and suicide in hospitalized patients

Almost no society can be found in which a suicide has not been attempted, but due to the religious thoughts, it is less observed among Muslims and Catholic Christians. The individual who commits a suicide is aware of the consequence of his/her action and this is the most important issue in the explication and explanation of the suicide phenomenon. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between saying prayers and suicide among hospitalized patients. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2008 on 225 inpatients of the hospitals affiliated to the Sanandaj University of Medical Sciences who had attempted suicide. The subjects were selected using available sampling method. Data collection tool was a two-part questionnaire consisting of the demographic data and the rate of saying prayers by means of interview. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16 statistical software by Chi-square test and Fisher exact test. The frequency of saying prayers was weak in 125 subjects and was average in 100 cases. there was a significant correlation between the rate of saying prayers and gender, family size, marital status, place of residence, the patient's job and the history of mental illness (p<0.0001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between saying prayers and physical illness (p<0.002), believing in prayer (p<0.009) and understanding the philosophy of prayer (p<0.0001). No significant correlation was observed between the rate of saying prayers and birth order (p<0.98), educational status (p>0.05) and belief in the afterlife (p<0.326). Saying prayers has a reverse relationship with suicide attempting and this hypothesis can be used as a deterrent in the psychological treatments of patients who attempt suicide.