Attempted suicide in adolescence: A review and critique of the literature

Abstract

Attempted suicide among adolescents is a significant public health concern due to its frequency, coexisting physical and psychiatric problems, and economic toll. Attempters are also a high-risk group for eventual completed suicide. This review covers three major areas pertinent to attempted suicide in adolescence: characteristics of the attempt (lethality, intent, and precipitants), psychological factors associated with suicidal behavior, and follow-up course. Findings suggest there exists a significant degree of individual and family dysfunction among a large proportion of adolescent suicide attempters. However, strong evidence for the specificity of this dysfunction to suicide attempts, rather than to general emotional disturbance, was found only for hopelessness, family conflict, and contagion. In addition, the ability to devise effective interventions for adolescent suicide attempters is significantly compromised by limited knowledge of the natural course following a suicide attempt. Therefore, the need for comprehensive follow-up studies of suicide attempters should be the immediate focus of research efforts with this high-risk group. © 1989.