Citation

Morrissey RF, Dicker R, Abikoff HB, Alvir JM, DeMarco A, Koplewicz HS. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1995; 34(7): 902-911.

Affiliation

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7649961

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this research is to investigate the criteria used by child and adolescent clinicians in determining the appropriateness of hospitalization for suicidal adolescents. METHOD: A questionnaire containing 64 vignettes describing adolescent suicide attempters was completed by a sample of 36 child and adolescent clinicians. Six variables known to relate to lethality of attempt were systematically varied within the vignettes: gender, depression, conduct disorder/substance abuse, previous attempts, suicidal relative, and family supports. Respondents were asked to judge the appropriateness of hospitalization for each vignette. RESULTS: Hospitalization preference was found to be inversely related to professional experience and was significantly predicted by all risk factors except gender. Configural cue utilization added substantially to the efficacy of a linear model in predicting preference to hospitalize. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced clinicians use known risk factors for adolescent suicide in making recommendations to hospitalize, but results also suggest ongoing needs for education and training in adolescent suicidality.

Language: en