Suicidal children grow up: ego functions associated with suicide attempts.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relations between suicidal behavior in children and ego functions including impulse control, reality testing, and ego mechanisms of defense.

METHOD

One hundred thirty-three children were assessed initially and at a 6- to 8-year follow-up for levels of reality testing and impulse control and frequency of use of several ego mechanisms of defense. Associations between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts at the initial assessment and at follow-up were analyzed with regard to ego functions.

RESULTS

Specific ego functions, such as impulsivity, poor reality testing, and ego mechanisms of defense such as projection, regression, compensation, and reaction formation were positively associated with suicide attempts. Repression was a protective factor to prevent suicide attempts in the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that ego functions are related to behavior of consequence and are useful in the identification of children at risk for suicidal behavior.