Year: 1964 Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, v.188, (1964) p.1103-1107 SIEC No: 19820027

A study of 31 adolescents & children seen at the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center or in private psychiatric practice revealed a peculiar type of self-destructive tendency in 15 patients. In these 15, the suicide attempt was the ultimate in a series of various self-destructive acts. Arousing parental concern & thereby reducing anxiety & feelings of helplessness resulted in a paradoxical situation in which a natural drive for survival has become involved with a drive toward self-destruction.