From a nationwide study of 830 white, emotionally disturbed adolescents, ages 12 to 18, three samples were selected for study. One consisted of all boys (N = 31) and girls (N = 67) referred for treatment after suicide attempts. The second included those boys (N = 7) and girls (N = 22) referred for suicidal thoughts and threats, as well as suicide attempts. The third was comprised of those boys (N = 13) and girls (N = 12) referred for suicidal thoughts and threats, but who had made no known suicide attempts. Both self- and psychotherapist ratings on 1,250 variables were examined by comparing the endorsement rates for boys and girls in each criterion group separately with those of the remaining sample of distrubed adolescents who had not been referred for suicidal behavior. Our results confirm some past findings and introduce a large number of new correlates of adolescent suicidal behavior. They indicate that there is little difference between teenagers who attempt suicide and those who think about it or threaten it. The findings also highlight the necessity of studying the sexes separately.

The MMPI high point code pattern of 4-3 had been found in previous research to be associated with commission of violent acts. The 4-3 5s in this study were compared with the three most frequently occurring other MMPI code types in a prison and with the institutional base rate for commission of violent criminal offenses. The 4-3 Ss committed significantly more violent acts than any of the other personality groups and significantly more violence than the base rates of inmates in general. The other three personality groups did not differ from the base rate. Of the 4-3 5s, 85% had a history of violence. Personality variables such as guilt and anxiety, and race of the offender, were also investigated.

The purpose of this study was to compare Minnesota Multipbasic Personality Inventory results of 53 adolescent poor sleepers with a matched control group of 53 good sleepers. Using appropriate adolescent norms, poor sleepers were significantly higher on Scales Hs, D, Hy (p<.00l), Si (p<.0l), and lower on Ma (p<.01). Among these emotionally disturbed youngsters, neurotic profiles were three times as frequent for poor sleepers, whereas characterological profiles were three times more frequent for good sleepers. Twice as many poor sleepers had three or more pathologically elevated scale scores as did good sleepers. Adolescents, like adults, show a highly significant relationship between neurotic personality functioning and poor sleep.

J_ !;KiaIryTo3aJ^^iKFS^cmvict.io.tLthat unless "tHernilieu of a relationship thatjs cehT^nfb~~a^hTlxncan_undei^ofavorable cha^e7TKe"'most skillful_therap_eutic intervention is of Jittle ayajl. This conviction has~3irecfeH the interests of many clinicians toward investigating the dynamics of primary group interaction and toward conceptualizing the pathology of the child within the psychosocial structure of the family^ (Ackerman, 1958;Ackerman & Behrens, 1956;Hollis, 1954). Among a majority of child guidance practitioners, it is axiomatic that psychodiagnosis3 has become the sine qua non for planning effective treatment.

From a nationwide study of 831 white, emotionally disturbed adolescents, S3 poor sleepers (37 boys and 16 girls) were identified to study personality and psychosocial characteristics associated with sleep disturbance. Psychotherapist ratings of 680 variables were examined by comparing the endorsement rates of the poor-sleep criterion group with the remaining 778 adolescents using a split-sample procedure. The results yielded 31 significant, cross-validated characteristics that differentiate poor sleepers. Among those characteristics which emerged were anxiety, tension, obsession, depression, sensitivity, somatic concerns, and multiple neurotic manifestations. The findings have significance for the understanding and clinical treatment of poor sleepers or insomniacs and emphasize the need for a more integrated psychological approach in contrast to the current search for the physiological and biochemical bases for classifying and altering sleep disturbances.