Adolescents who take overdoses: outcome in terms of changes in psychopathology and the adolescents' attitudes to care and to their overdose.
Adolescent self-poisoners were followed up 3 months after taking an overdose. High levels of psychopathology were found, with 72% (18/25) of the adolescents having a diagnosable psychiatric disorder and 48% (12/25) major depression. All the adolescents were offered follow-up treatment from health or social services. Compliance with treatment was very high. Seventy-two per cent of the adolescents found treatment useful to them. The adolscents received a generally sympathetic response from their significant others. Fifty-four per cent of the adolescents thought that their overdose had resulted overall in improvements to their lives but 44% would consider taking an overdose again in similar circumstances.
Burgess
S
S
Warneford Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
Hawton
K
K
Loveday
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*