CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS SUICIDE ATTEMPTERS

Background. - Psychiatric evaluation of suicide attempters is necessary in order to define aspects of primary and secondary prevention of suicidal behavior. Population and methods. - All the 80 children and adolescents (66 girls and 14 boys) admitted from September 1989 to September 1992 in a pediatric hospital for suicide attempt have been included in this study. Their mean age was 13 yr 10 mo +/- 1.4 and 81% of them were more than 13 years of age. Evaluation included a structured interview and a scale assessing general psychopathology. Results. - Risk factors included previous psychiatric history in the patient (47%), family history of psychiatric disturbances in 33% of the mothers, 15% of the fathers and 13% in both. Recent modification in familial composition was seen in one third of cases and chronic difficulties in parent/child interaction in 92%. A relationship between the non impulsivity of the suicidal gesture, psychiatric history and depression diagnosed at the time of evaluation was also recognized. Conclusions. - Knowledge of these risk factors should help to prevent and treat some aspects of suicidal behavior.