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Death concepts in suicidal adolescents
D Gothelf1, A Apter, A Brand-Gothelf
1Department of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|December 16, 1998
Summary
Adolescents who view death as pleasant or are preoccupied with it show increased suicidal behavior. Death concept evaluation is crucial for assessing suicide risk in young people.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Psychology
- Suicidology
Background:
- Suicidal behavior in adolescents is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the cognitive factors associated with adolescent suicidality is critical for prevention and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between specific components of the death concept and suicidal behavior in adolescents.
- To determine if elements of death perception differentiate between suicidal and non-suicidal adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Pfeffer's Child Suicide Potential Scale to assess death concepts in suicidal inpatients, non-suicidal inpatients, emergency room suicidal subjects, and normal controls.
- Measured IQ and emotional factors (depression, anxiety, aggression) to understand their influence on death concepts and suicidality.
Main Results:
- Suicidal adolescents perceived death as more pleasant than non-suicidal groups; all groups viewed death as final.
- Suicidal inpatients showed greater preoccupation with death than non-suicidal inpatients.
- Preoccupation with death directly correlated with suicidality, even after controlling for depression, anxiety, and aggression.
Conclusions:
- Specific elements of an adolescent's death concept can distinguish between suicidal and non-suicidal individuals.
- Death concept evaluation is a valuable tool for assessing suicide risk in adolescents.