Evaluating and Treating Adolescent Suicide Attempters From Research to Practice

9780126579512

0126579512

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the emotional, behavioral and cognitive characteristics of adolescents who have attempted suicide. While suicide is one of the largest killers of adolescents, most suicide attempts do not result in death. Therefore the treatment of the suicide attempter following the attempt becomes a significant part of the clinician's work with these adolescents. Moreover, the precursors and behavioral markers for a suicide attempt become important signals for the school counselor, youth worker, or therapist. In Evaluating and Treating Adolescent Suicide Attempters, the reader is provided with an overview of important cognitions, emotions, and behaviors pertinent to adolescent suicidal behavior. Separate chapters are devoted to mood states, cognitive characteristics, substance abuse, family factors, and interpersonal issues related to suicidal behavior. Measures to assess each of these factors are described in each chapter. Each chapter opens with a case study vignette from the author's extensive clinical files followed by a summary of the empirical literature.