NCJ Number
183486
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 39 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 876-880
Date Published
July 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study seeks to demonstrate that parameters of suicidal crises vary as a function of previous suicide attempts in youth inpatients.
Abstract
On the basis of past conceptual work on the unique characteristics of multiple suicide attempts, as well as work on the effect of previous suicidal and depressive experience on later functioning, the study developed predictions regarding the intensity and duration of suicidal crises in youths presenting to inpatient psychiatry units. Specifically, it hypothesized that multiple attempt status would relate significantly to intensity of suicidal crises and would relate more strongly to intensity than to duration of crises. Data on suicide history and self-rated symptoms were collected for 50 suicidal patients, all of whom were available at follow-up. Multiple attempters experienced more intense but not more long-lasting crises; the relation between multiple attempt status and crisis intensity exceeded that between multiple attempt status and crisis duration. The study concludes that previous suicidal experience may alter the parameters of current suicidal crises and discusses the implications of these findings for suicide risk and clinical assessment and management. Table, references