Citation

Boroń J, Zyss T. Psychiatr. Psychol. Klin. 2006; 6(1): 34-40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Medical Communications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

On the basis of their own experience the authors consider the issue of approach to children and adolescents after a suicidal attempt. The first contact with a patient of this kind may take place either in an outpatient clinic of a psychiatric hospital or a hospital ward (paediatric department or casualty department). In the former case it is a psychiatrist, who decides about further treatment, in the latter case the decision concerning therapy is made by a paediatrician in cooperation with a consultant psychiatrist. Both the time that has passed since the suicidal attempt and the place where the meeting takes place have a significant impact on the attitude towards the patient and the therapies that can be offered. The authors emphasize and discuss the question of cooperation between various persons, institutions that take care of young patients and their families. The problem of responsibility of the persons involved in the process of intervention, especially in the cases of rejection of hospitalisation, is discussed. Also, the authors consider the dilemmas regarding the doctors' right for intervention into a community, when the legal guardians of a juvenile patient oppose this action, and the question of hospitalisation without the juvenile patient's informed consent. Undertaken suicide attempt, particularly by juvenile patient, establishes serious therapeutic challenge. The situaion of patient admitting during hospital ambulance service does not permit on consideration about suicide nature: was the suicide real and hazardous, or has "only" demonstrative and manipulative character. Concluding, the authors emphasize the necessity of observation of the patient and analysis of his/her family and community situation, in the conditions of a somatic department or a psychiatric hospital.

Language: pl

Keywords

human; suicide attempt; hospitalization; review; consultation; informed consent; mental health service; medical decision making; outpatient care