In the present study we examined to what extent persons who attempt suicide describe their attempt in terms of social, joint processes. Psychotherapists interviewed 40 patients hospitalized in a general hospital for a few days after an attempted suicide. The content of the interviews was analyzed for the level of systemic processes the patients…

There is growing evidence that a functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) moderates the impact of negative life events (e.g., childhood abuse) on the development of depression. However, it is unclear whether the gene x environment interaction predicts suicide attempts specifically. In addition, previous studies have not…

Postvention actions are commonly employed after completed suicides and suicide attempts but can be adapted to assist affected family members in dealing with other types of crisis. The authors adapt a postvention model to be applied to systemically working with families who have a member engaging in self-injurious behavior. Recommendations for…

Objective: To evaluate cognitive-behavioral therapy, antidepressant medication alone, and combined CBT and antidepressant medication in the treatment of depressive disorders in adolescents. Method: Seventy-three adolescents (ages 12-18 years) with a primary diagnosis of DSM-IV major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, or depressive disorder…

Objective: To identify predictors and moderators of response to acute treatments among depressed adolescents (N = 439) randomly assigned to fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), both fluoxetine and CBT, or clinical management with pill placebo in the Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS). Method: Potential baseline…

It has been estimated that completed suicides in the United States leave behind 750,000 survivors every year. Many times, individuals who complete suicide had been seeing a mental health practitioner, who then must face the turmoil of losing a client to suicide. This paper reviews the literature on the frequency, impact, and recovery of…

Suicide attempts and suicidal ideation among adolescents have been increasing faster than those for adults. This study addresses three questions on adolescent suicidal behavior: (1) Why do some adolescents with psychiatric disorders have a history of suicidal behaviors and some do not?; (2) How do intrapsychic and interpersonal underpinnings of…

Moral reasoning, engagement in risk, and domain placement of risk as a moral, conventional, or personal issue were assessed in two groups of students: an intervention group participating in an alternative school program employing the just community approach to education, and a control group from the larger high school with which the alternative…

In response to the increasing rate of adolescent suicide, many school and mental health professionals have implemented school-based suicide prevention programs to address the issue of adolescent suicide. Most suicide prevention programs cover similar topics. However, the perspectives from which they approach suicide may vary. The majority of…

This document contains three related papers addressing the issue of youth suicide. "Youth Suicide: An Investigation of Ideation, Prevalence, Depression and Student Awareness" (R. Ladson Berry) presents results from a survey of 283 junior high and high school students in South Carolina public schools. Findings are reported that revealed a…

This monograph provides teachers, counselors, administrators, and other school staff members with a simple and practical guide to becoming "response-ready" when dealing with suicide. The first chapter discusses the fact that self-destructive behaviors are prevalent in students which affect their willingness to learn and the increasing incidences…

Patients' rights legislation makes the determination of possible danger to self and others extremely important for patients about to be discharged from mental institutions, especially patients who were admitted because of suicidal behavior. Because evaluation methods which rely on patient self-reports may be manipulated by clever patients, a new…

This document describes a program developed by Maryland's Youth Suicide Prevention School Program Committee in response to state legislation, and is intended to: (1) assist in increasing the awareness among school personnel and community leaders of the incidence of teenage suicide; (2) train school personnel in individual and schoolwide strategies…

Increasing numbers of adolescents are experiencing deep depression and instances of adolescent suicide are increasing at a rate 10 times faster than for adults. Predisposition to suicide can be classified into three categories: biophysical, situational, and syndromatic. Adolescents suffering biophysical disorders are most easily identified by…

Although the possibility of a suicidal act cannot be predicted from any one variable, a disturbed relationship with parents has been described as one of the most important extrinsic factors contributing to a youth's risk for self-destructive behavior. This study sought to determine if it is possible to discriminate between groups…