Family dynamics, hopelessness and psychiatric disturbance in parasuicidal adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Adolescent parasuicide has often has been associated with family disturbance, hopelessness and psychiatric disturbance, but little empirical work has been done to verify these clinical impressions.


METHODS
The present study compares matched groups of hospitalised parasuicidal adolescents, non-psychiatric medically hospitalised adolescents and a control group on measures of family disturbance, hopelessness and psychopathology.


RESULTS
The findings reveal significantly higher levels of family disturbance, hopelessness and depressive symptoms in the parasuicidal group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that prevention and treatment of adolescent parasuicide should focus on both individual and family dynamics.
Pillay
A L
AL
Subdepartment of Medically Applied Psychology, University of Natal Medical School, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Wassenaar
D R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*