Children Who Poison Themselves II. Prediction of Attendance for Treatment

The factors making for therapeutic engagement were examined in a series of 50 school children who had deliberately poisoned themselves. Of these 28 kept an appointment for psychiatric treatment: they were characterised by high levels of psychological symptoms, especially those of depression. The kind of treatment offered was not predictive, but parental attitudes & background contributed to the likelihood of returning for treatment. If effective, psychiatric treatment would help many children.