Suicidality in adolescence: review and legal considerations.
Adolescence is a unique developmental stage in which suicidality first emerges as a public health problem. The increasing trend of teenage suicide since the 1950s has only relented in the past ten years. The risk factors for adolescent suicide, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts and an approach to assessing the suicidal adolescent for risk of future self-harm are reviewed. Treatment consists of ensuring safety and then treating the underlying psychiatric, psychological, and interpersonal disturbances. Issues of consent, confidentiality, and malpractice actions are addressed.
Judge
Beth
B
Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, NY 10958-0158, USA. bethjudge@yahoo.com
Billick
Stephen Bates
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States