The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why

There is large consensus across clinical research that feelings of worthlessness (FOW) are one of the highest risk factors for a patient’s depression becoming suicidal. In this paper, I attempt to make sense of this empirical relationship from a phenomenological perspective. I propose that there ar...

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Main Author: Danica Janse van Vuuren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2025-06-01
Series:Philosophy of Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://philmed.pitt.edu/philmed/article/view/211
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author Danica Janse van Vuuren
author_facet Danica Janse van Vuuren
author_sort Danica Janse van Vuuren
collection DOAJ
description There is large consensus across clinical research that feelings of worthlessness (FOW) are one of the highest risk factors for a patient’s depression becoming suicidal. In this paper, I attempt to make sense of this empirical relationship from a phenomenological perspective. I propose that there are purely reactive and pervasive forms of FOW. Subsequently, I present a phenomenological demonstration for how and why it is pervasive FOW that pose a direct suicidal threat. I then outline criteria, contingent upon empirical verification, by which clinicians can more confidently identify when a patient’s FOW place them at high risk of suicide.
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spelling doaj-art-befade195086492d8ea89f98bee6f1d22025-08-20T03:44:39ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghPhilosophy of Medicine2692-39632025-06-016110.5195/pom.2025.211The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and WhyDanica Janse van Vuuren0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5216-2601Department of Philosophy, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia There is large consensus across clinical research that feelings of worthlessness (FOW) are one of the highest risk factors for a patient’s depression becoming suicidal. In this paper, I attempt to make sense of this empirical relationship from a phenomenological perspective. I propose that there are purely reactive and pervasive forms of FOW. Subsequently, I present a phenomenological demonstration for how and why it is pervasive FOW that pose a direct suicidal threat. I then outline criteria, contingent upon empirical verification, by which clinicians can more confidently identify when a patient’s FOW place them at high risk of suicide. http://philmed.pitt.edu/philmed/article/view/211SuicidalityMood disorderSelf-esteemExistentialism
spellingShingle Danica Janse van Vuuren
The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why
Philosophy of Medicine
Suicidality
Mood disorder
Self-esteem
Existentialism
title The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why
title_full The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why
title_fullStr The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why
title_full_unstemmed The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why
title_short The Type of Feelings of Worthlessness That Poses a High Risk for Suicide in Depression and Why
title_sort type of feelings of worthlessness that poses a high risk for suicide in depression and why
topic Suicidality
Mood disorder
Self-esteem
Existentialism
url http://philmed.pitt.edu/philmed/article/view/211
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