Familial and intrapsychic splits in suicidal adolescents.
This paper describes a particular family dynamics involved in suicidal behaviors of adolescents. Certain family situiations create a split between some family members and the suicidal adolescent to the point of total estrangement. The adolescent copes with this split by forming intrapsychic splits, including a suicidal self and nonsuicidal self, through dissociation. This process peaks in the suicidal behavior itself. The therapeutic principles implied by this model are presented.
Orbach
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Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
D000293:Adolescent; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*