Treatment Compliance in Adolescents Who Attempt Suicide

The June 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry presents the results of a two-year follow-up study looking at the benefits of treatment in adolescents who have attempted suicide. A sample of eighty-five adolescents (ages 13-18) who had attempted suicide were recruited along with their families from four psychiatric hospitals and were evaluated for symptoms of emotional problems. Later assessments were conducted every 6 months over the course of a two-year period to determine whether the adolescents had participated in treatment and how well they had complied with the treatment recommendations (whether they had taken prescribed medication or attended treatment sessions), their attitudes toward treatment, and further suicide attempts and ideation. The results showed that adolescents with a disruptive behavior disorder diagnosis were less compliant with individual psychotherapy, as were those with a substance dependence other than alcohol or marijuana. Adolescents who were diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder were less compliant with prescribed medication (6 months post-attempt). While parents` perception of treatment as being helpful was predictive of greater treatment compliance, adolescents' attitudes toward treatment did not appear to play a role. Finally, compliance with treatment was not generally found to be a predictor of later suicide attempts. The authors concluded that attempts at increasing treatment compliance in adolescent suicide attempters should vary according to the adolescent`s symptoms as well as parental attitudes toward treatment.

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Comments

[teen addiction treatment]

Age of puberty is very sensitive stage of growth, They being curious and emotional, thats why they need a proper guidance and attention from their parents. It is the most important way on how to prevent them to do such thing like drinking alcohol, drug addiction, and other vices.

-mj-

[Romeo Vitelli]

Unfortunately, puberty is also an age when peer influence becomes more important than parental influence. As children move toward adulthood, they are more motivated to find their own answers.