The Adolescent Suicide Attempt: A Cardinal Symptom Of A Serious Psychiatric Disorder

The rate of adolescent suicide has been increasing over the past decade. This is a review of the literature regarding the adolescent who attempts suicide with emphasis on the underlying pathology & shows that a true adolescent suicide attempt should be viewed as a cardinal symptom in establishing the identity of a serious psychiatric disorder. This seriousness is reflected in terms of increased lethality, degree of internal pain, decreased reality testing, & evidence of long-standing pathology.