ARTICLES
Psychopathology in Urban Female Minority Adolescents with Suicide Attempts

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Abstract

This study examines the level of psychopathology in 53 African-American females who attempted suicide by ingestion. Parents completed a measure of adolescent psychopathology, and the youths completed measures of depression and psychopathology. Overall, the results suggested that these youths were not experiencing significant emotional distress. However, after classifying the youths into four groups by their self-reported level of depression, the incidence of parent- and youth-reported psychopathology varied. More significant levels of depression corresponded to significant internalizing difficulties, as reported by the adolescent, and myriad psychopathological difficulties, as reported by the parents. These results are discussed from a clinical perspective with a developmentally and culturally sensitive focus. Disposition decisions must consider the level of psychopathology reported by child and parent, the family's willingness to participate in outpatient treatment, and the degree to which the adolescent and her family acknowledge the significance of the suicide attempt.

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    The authors would like to thank the many faculty and staff members on the Child and Adolescent Consultation Psychiatric and Liaison Service and the Psychiatric Emergency Clinic of Grady Memorial Hospital for all of their support, participation, and hard work on this project.

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