Suicidal Behavior as a Child Psychiatric Emergency

Characteristics of out‐patient adolescents with suicidal tendencies

“…The longer duration of treatment and higher number of scheduled and kept appointments among suicidal compared to non-suicidal adolescents suggests that special emphasis was placed on the treatment of those suicidal individuals. Interestingly, suicidal adolescents did not miss more appointments than non-suicidal adolescents, although previous studies have reported higher rates of non-compliance, ranging from 41% to 77% among suicidal adolescents (12,39,40), than that found in the present study (34%). Nevertheless, about one-third of scheduled appointments were not kept, which suggests that vigorous tracking procedures for all non-compliant adolescent out-patients are needed.…”

Clinical Observations of Play of Hospitalized Suicidal Children

“…Unlike adolescent and adult populations in which women attempt suicide more frequently than men (Bergstrand and Otto, 1962; Glaser, 1965; Gould, 1965), the boys and girls in our study showed no difference in incidence of suicide attempts. However, the finding that the boys in our population predominated in the incidence of suicidal threats is consistent with other reports (Ackerly, 1967; Lourie, 1965; Mattsson et al, 1969). The greater known vulnerability of boys of this age to psychopathology is consistent with this finding.…”

Demographic predictors of treatment attendance among adolescent suicide attempters.

“…Although 42% of cases were closed for nonadherence, patients in our clinic typically received almost six sessions of treatment and 91% attended at least one session. This initial contact rate is almost twice as high as the 53% reported by Mattson et al (1969) and the 56% reported by Taylor and Stansfield (1984). Our high initial contact rate suggests that vigorous and systematic case tracking procedures can significantly impact the amount of treatment received by suicidal youngsters.…”

“…rate is almost twice as high as the 53% reported by Mattson et al (1969) and the 56% reported by Taylor and Stansfield (1984). Our high initial contact rate suggests that vigorous and systematic case tracking procedures can significantly impact the amount of treatment received by suicidal youngsters.…”