Adolescent Suicide and Attempted Suicide (IN: Suicide – an Unnecessary Death, edited by D Wasserman)

This chapter is on adolescent suicide & attempted suicide. It starts with a description of epidemiology & the reasons for the increases in suicidal behaviours. Risk factors for youth suicide including affective disorders, schizophrenia, & alcohol & drug abuse are discussed in detail. Psychological characteristics of adolescent suicide attempters – impulsivity, anger, anxiety – are reviewed. The psychodynamic aspects of adolescent suicide, assessment, & treatment are other topics which are addressed. The chapter concludes with the case history of a 17-year-old male. (26 refs.)