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Related Experiment Videos

Adolescent suicide and defensive style.

C J Recklitis1, G G Noam, S R Borst

  • 1Hall-Mercer Laboratory of Developmental Psychology and Developmental Psychopathology, Harvard Medical School.

Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary
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Adolescents attempting suicide use more self-directed defenses. This study highlights the crucial role of ego defense mechanisms in understanding and addressing adolescent suicidal behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Adolescent Health

Background:

  • Suicidal behavior in adolescents is a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding the psychological factors contributing to adolescent suicidality is crucial for effective intervention.
  • Ego defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used to cope with distress, and their role in suicidality requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between ego defense mechanisms, psychiatric diagnoses, and suicidality in adolescent psychiatric patients.
  • To identify specific defense mechanisms associated with suicide attempts and ideation in adolescents.
  • To determine if defense mechanisms predict suicidality independently of psychiatric diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • An empirical study involving 200 adolescent psychiatric patients aged 12-16 years.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Patients were assessed using a structured diagnostic interview and divided into three groups: suicide attempters, suicidal ideators, and nonsuicidal patients.
  • The Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI) was used to assess ego defense mechanisms.

    • Main Results:

    • Adolescents who attempted suicide or had suicidal ideation scored higher on the defense mechanism 'turning-against-self' compared to nonsuicidal adolescents.
    • Suicidal adolescents also scored lower on the defense mechanism 'reversal'.
    • Affective disorders were more common in suicidal adolescents, but 'turning-against-self' remained a significant predictor of suicide attempts even after controlling for diagnosis.

    Conclusions:

    • Ego defense mechanisms, particularly 'turning-against-self', are significantly associated with adolescent suicidal behavior.
    • These findings underscore the importance of assessing defense mechanisms in adolescent psychiatric evaluations for suicide risk.
    • Interventions targeting maladaptive defense mechanisms may be beneficial in preventing adolescent suicide attempts.