Interventions focused on increasing compliance with mental health treatment for adolescent suicide attempters should focus on specific child psychopathology, as well as parental attitudes toward treatment.
Objective
To describe mental health services utilization for adolescents after attempted suicide, explore factors related to treatment compliance, and determine the relationship between compliance and suicidality.
Method
Eighty-five adolescents (ages 13–18) who had attempted suicide and their families were recruited from four psychiatric hospitals and were evaluated for symptoms of psychopathology. Subsequent assessments were conducted every six months for two years to determine treatment utilization, treatment compliance (non-adherence to medication regimes or non-attendance of psychosocial treatments against provider advice), attitudes towards treatments utilized, and further suicide attempts and ideation.
Results
Adolescents with a disruptive behavior disorder diagnosis were less compliant with individual psychotherapy, as were those with a substance dependence other than alcohol or marijuana. Those with an affective/anxiety disorder diagnosis were less compliant with psychopharmacological interventions (6 months post attempt). Parental perception of treatment as helpful was predictive of greater compliance, while adolescents' attitudes towards treatment were not predictive of compliance. Finally, compliance with treatment was not generally predictive of future suicidality.
Conclusion
Interventions focused on increasing compliance with mental health treatment for adolescent suicide attempters should focus on specific child psychopathology, as well as parental attitudes towards treatment.
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