Do Adolescents who Take Overdoses Have Specific Psychological Characteristics? A Comparative Study With Psychiatric and Community Controls

Measures of problem-solving, depression, anger, impulsivity & self-esteem were studied in 33 adolescents after an overdose, 30 psychiatric controls & 30 community controls. All subjects were interviewed twice. Significant differences were found between the 3 groups on all variables at both interviews. However, when depressive effect was controlled for, all of these differences disappeared except for impulsivity at the second interview. The overdose group remained more impulsive. (29 refs.)