Adolescent depression and suicide

The author reviews briefly our current knowledge of three forms of behavior in adolescence--depression, parasuicidal behavior and suicidal behavior. He cautions against assuming as close an interrelatedness between such forms of behavior as has been commonly taken for granted. Secondly, the clinical findings of these forms, particularly depression, are presented as appearing in a predetermined sequence. The importance of the formation of internal correlates to the social fabric is stressed as a prerequisite for adaptation to adult life. Finally, a developmental perspective is discussed that weaves together, epigenetically, two patterns. The first is the more general psycho-social one of identity formation. The second is the existence of a progression within the adolescent stage of a process consisting of three phases. The author postulates a progression/regression ratio indicating an epigenetic maturational process specific to each individual. This is an effort to integrate clinical findings and developmental, intrinsic, patterns. Under such an hypothesis, the process of autonomy in adolescence involves a natural sequence of responses that seem to correspond to clinical syndromes.