Sadness and suicidal tendencies in preschool children.

This paper highlights factors associated with suicidal behavior in children who are approximately 3-6 years old. Similar suicidal risk factors found in older children, such as depression, preoccupations with death, and family instability involving child abuse and other forms of parental psychopathology, are associated with suicidal impulses of preschool children. Assessment of these risk factors should be included in pediatric and mental health evaluations of such young children. Clinical vignettes are offered in this text.