title: Qualitative approach to attempted suicide by adolescents and young adults: the (neglected) role of revenge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide by adolescents and young adults is a major public health concern, and repetition of self-harm is an important risk factor for future suicide attempts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose is to explore the perspective of adolescents directly involved in suicidal acts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study involving 16 purposively selected adolescents (sex ratio1 ∶ 1) from 3 different centers. Half had been involved in repeated suicidal acts, and the other half only one. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews and analyzed according to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found five main themes, organized in two superordinate themes. The first theme (individual dimensions of the suicide attempt) describes the issues and explanations that the adolescents saw as related to themselves; it includes the subthemes: (1) negative emotions toward the self and individual impasse, and (2) the need for some control over their lives. The second main theme (relational dimensions of attempted suicide) describes issues that adolescents mentioned that were related to others and includes three subthemes: (3) perceived impasse in interpersonal relationships, (4) communication, and (5) revenge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents involved in suicidal behavior are stuck in both an individual and a relational impasse from which there is no exit and no apparent way to reach the other. Revenge can bridge this gap and thus transforms personal distress into a relational matter. This powerful emotion has been neglected by both clinicians and researchers.
authors.affiliation: INSERM 669 research unit, Paris-Sud University and Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orri
authors.affiliation: Department Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paduanello
authors.affiliation: INSERM 669 research unit, Paris-Sud University and Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France; Maison de Solenn, AP-HP Cochin Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lachal
authors.affiliation: INSERM 669 research unit, Paris-Sud University and Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falissard
authors.affiliation: INSERM 669 research unit, Paris-Sud University and Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France; Maison de Solenn, AP-HP Cochin Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sibeoni
authors.affiliation: INSERM 669 research unit, Paris-Sud University and Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France; Centre de Soins Psychothérapeutiques de Transition pour Adolescents, Argenteuil Hospital Centre, Argenteuil, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Revah-Levy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult