Double Suicide Attempts in Adolescence (IN: The Adolescent in Turmoil, edited by A Z Schwartzberg)

Double suicide attempts have been very rarely reported among adolescents. 13 cases (four boys & nine girls aged 12-16) could be found in 2 studies of hospitalized adolescent suicide attempters; one in a pediatric hospital, the other in a psychiatric adolescent unit. Family disturbances & parents’ psychiatric disorders were very frequent. Only one adolescent was living with both biological parents at the time of the suicide attempt. Emotional deprivation, including narcissistic failures, was very frequent. The suicide attempt had a signification within the narcissistic relationship of the two adolescents. (7 refs.)