Children who poison themselves. II. Prediction of attendance for treatment.

The factors making for therapeutic engagement were examined in a series of 50 schoolchildren who had deliberately poisoned themselves. Of these 28 kept an appointment for psychiatric treatment: they were characterised by high levels of psychological symptoms, especially those of depression. The kind of treatment offered was not predictive, but parental attitudes and background contributed to the likelihood of returning for treatment. Psychiatric treatment, if effective, would be appropriate for many such children, and should be offered to them.