[Suicidal children and adolescents].
BACKGROUND
Psychiatric evaluation of suicide attempters is necessary in order to define aspects of primary and secondary prevention of suicidal behavior.


METHODS
All the 80 children and adolescents (66 girls and 14 boys) admitted from September 1989 to September 1992 in a pediatric hospital for suicide attempt have been included in this study. Their mean age was 13 yr 10 mo +/- 1.4 and 81% of them were more than 13 years of age. Evaluation included a structured interview and a scale assessing general psychopathology.


RESULTS
Risk factors included previous psychiatric history in the patient (47%), family history of psychiatric disturbances in 33% of the mothers, 15% of the fathers and 13% in both. Recent modification in familial composition was seen in one third of cases and chronic difficulties in parent/child interaction in 92%. A relationship between the non impulsivity of the suicidal gesture, psychiatric history and depression diagnosed at the time of evaluation was also recognized.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of these risk factors should help to prevent and treat some aspects of suicidal behavior.
Le Heuzey
M F
MF
Service de psychopathologie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris, France.
Isnard
P
P
Badoual
A M
AM
Dugas
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Enfants et adolescents suicidants.