Resource Tag: ACTING OUT

Hypothesizes that the psychopathological dimensions related to serotonin are significantly intercorrelated since they seem to have a common biological basis. 60 psychiatric inpatients were examined using psychometric tests measuring suicidality, violence potential, impulsivity, depressive mood & anxiety. Scores tended to be significantly correlated. Findings support the additional hypothesis that biological markers may be more closely […]

Suggests that from an evolutionary point of view, aggressive behavior increases the chances of individual survival as well as inclusive fitness. Reviews studies that show links between suicidality, violence & impulsivity. A two-step model of countervailing forces which identifies amplifiers & attenuators of the aggressive impulse is described. Also, variables that influence suicide, but not […]

This article reviews the studies on 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF 5-HIAA) & serotonin (5-HT) in aggressive & suicidal behavior. The author also discusses the relationship between 5-HIAA, 5-HT, & depression, suicide intent & method, anxiety, & impulse control. He ends with 6 conclusions about this area of biochemical research, including the assertion that […]

Letter to the editor. The author, in reference to Holden’s research on youth suicide, emphasizes the need to look at the role of childhood sexual abuse in depression & adolescent suicide. (GW)

Self-destructive & aggressive adolescents who had received residential treatment were followed up after discharge to the community. Severity of acting out prior to treatment or during residential treatment was not predictive of follow-up status. Frequency of early separations from parents & the age at which they occurred during the first 6 years was found to […]

Studied the mortality rate & aggressiveness in 2364 former patients of Swedish child guidance clinics during a 30-yr followup. 106 Ss had died; 82% of the deaths were caused by suicide, accidents or substance abuse (SA). Among Ss who died of suicide & SA, more mental disorders, SA & criminality were found in their parents […]

This study tested 264 adolescent psychiatric inpatients & 742 high school students on the Sommerfeldt-Clark Adolescents Recklessness Scale. The following 3 factors emerged: an interest in weapons & military dangers; a combination of dangerous driving & substance abuse; & involvement with smoking, drug use & “bad company”. The personality traits of venturesomeness & impulsiveness were […]

A childhood version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders & Schizophrenia (K-SADS) was used to assess 140 consecutive adolescent psych inpatient admissions. Depression scale scores were correlated with the Suicidality scale scores. Suicidality scores on K-SADS were higher in subjects diagnosed as having conduct disorder. It is concluded that aggression & impulsivity may be factors […]

From 1955-80 the suicide rate for those over 35 decreased, while for youth, those 15-34, it tripled. Typically at risk is the young white male who is impulsive & acting out. The rate for young males is 5 times higher than for young females. Guns have replaced drugs as the preferred method & should be […]

Suicidality in 291 adolescents using runaway shelters was studied. 35% reported past suicide attempts. Attempters had more behavioral & mental health problems. Most attempters had made their 1st attempt by their midteens. 25% made their latest attempt shortly before entering the shelter & 20% still considered suicide. Most attempts were not preplanned but 33% followed […]

This chapter deals with the demographic aspects of suicide in general hospitals. Two studies were reviewed. The most common method used was jumping; patients involved were either curonically or terminally ill, & many patients had more than one illness. Factors were losses, poor social adjustment, tenuous family ties, helplessness, hopelessness, boredom, & feelings of worthlessness. […]

The authors state that depression in parents is often associated with academic, social, & mental health problems, including depression in their children. Parental depression has also been shown to be related to abuse & neglect. Suggestions include: behavioral programs for abusive parents, a thorough investigation of parenting behavior, including a comparison of depressed vs. non-depressed […]

A family may or may not be the cause of a child’s difficulties, states Dr. Anderson, but their behavior can inadvertently reinforce maladaptive behavior. In this article, she suggests certain techniques for counsellors’ use in gaining insight into a child’s behavior & for evaluating treatment options. (NBB)

The author discusses the inappropriateness of insight therapy with interpretive interventions in the treatment of young adolescent girls. Lamb claims: They need help with strengthening their internal controls & in gaining a feeling of competence to deal with life’s problems. Two case examples of adolescent girls helped by this approach are discussed. 6 Refs. (NBB)

An exploratory study was conducted of all pregnant women between the ages of 15 & 45 who committed suicide in LA County during the years 1968-69 (n=12). Relatives of 7 victims were interviewed. A matched group of 7 women who had given birth was used for comparison. The PPS was used to collect data. Findings […]

This report features a case study of a fifteen year old girl whose stressful family history & mother’s suicide, five years earlier, resulted in unresolved conflicts which affected her ability to function, both emotionally & cognitively, & made her a potential suicide victim. The author discusses the positive effect his intervention therapies had on her […]

This article examines school-based prevention programs to determine if they reach those at risk & which ones can be safely put into practice. Considers the likelihood that such programs could have the same negative effect as television coverage. Even experts who differ on other aspects agree on the following steps for schools when instituting a […]

In order to disguise incidents of suicide many of the death reports are attributed to secondary reasons. The rate for older populations is higher than for youth, but suicide does occur regardless of age. It is assumed that there is a suicide type of person; yet most suicide victims do talk about suicide before they […]

Long standing untreated emotional disorders emerged in a psychological autopsy study of youth suicides. Another study emphasizes suicide as an impulsive reation to problematic social behaviors. Both studies concur in the problematic families of origin: “Factors having to do with shame and guilt seem to be especially overwhelming to immature egos.” Males between 20 and […]

Contends that the modern view of suicide was initiated by psychiatrists and sociologists, spawning subsequent studies of a multitude of factors such as life stress and clinical features. These data are supplemented by emerging biochemical approaches to suicide. Studies of suicide attempters and postmortem brain studies are cited to confirm the involvement of biochemical factors […]

Suicide among adolescents is examined by the author, a psychoanalyst who has worked extensively with adolescents. He presents a framework of principles for recognizing & resolving suicidal impulses in adolescents, based on a knowledge of biological, emotional, & social stages of development. Part 1 asks the question:”Why should we live”, Part 2, “How do we […]

Discusses the problem of hospitalizations stemming from self destructive behavior and suggests that public health efforts be aimed at increasing the patient’s sense of pleasurable well-being. Increasing the repertoire of problem-solving behaviors increases patients’abilities to predict and control the consequences of their behavior, increases their pleasure, and decreases the chances of their engaging in self-destructive […]