Conference paper
SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENCE: ATTEMPT TO CURE A CRISIS, BUT ALSO THE FATAL OUTCOME OF CERTAIN PATHOLOGIES
Céline De Hepcée
; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Christine Reynaert
; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Denis Jacques
; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Nicolas Zdanowicz
; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Abstract
Background: Teen suicide is an alarming public health issue. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the reasons
behind attempting/committing suicide. Our research focuses on adolescent psychopathology and on pathologies that are considered
as adolescent suicide risk factors.
Subjects and methods: We conducted literature-based research. The first part of this research was based on adolescent psychopathological
traits, whilst the second concentrated on the most frequently made diagnoses in the case of adolescents who had
attempted suicide.
Results: Adolescence is a period of life characterized by great instability, where everything is called into question. We can
observe a high propensity towards taking action, which allows the adolescent to bypass certain questions that they cannot answer.
This takes place against a background where the body, which is undergoing change, becomes the scene, the means and the purpose
to answer these questions, once and for all, through suicide. Notwithstanding, the studies also show that, setting aside these
psychopathological considerations that characterize every adolescent, certain diagnoses are commonly related to adolescent suicide
and, as such, constitute risk factors. These pathologies are as follows: depression, adjustment disorder and personality disorder. We
can, however, include some precisions as regards the frequency of these diagnoses, given that adolescence is inherently a period of
life characterized by depression and that the future adult is obliged to adjust.
Conclusions: Teen suicide is, therefore, conditioned by pathological behaviour, which is part of a necessary and normal
transition, but one which is occasionally stimulated by certain pathological instabilities.
Keywords
suicide; depression; adolescence
Hrčak ID:
264553
URI
Publication date:
8.9.2015.
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