Citation

Pillay AL, Wassenaar DR. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Psychiatry 1997; 31(2): 227-231.

Affiliation

Subdepartment of Medically Applied Psychology, University of Natal Medical School, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9140630

Abstract

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. METHOD: 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.

Language: en