Walters A S, Barrett R P, Knapp L G, Borden M C
Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI 02915, USA.
Res Dev Disabil. 1995 Mar-Apr;16(2):85-96. doi: 10.1016/0891-4222(94)00029-8.
Despite increasing attention to psychiatric disorders in the mentally retarded, suicidal behavior remains an underreported phenomenon in this population, particularly in children and adolescents. This study was aimed at documenting the existence of suicidal behavior among 90 consecutive admissions to a specialty unit for dually diagnosed children and adolescents in a medical school-affiliated children's psychiatric hospital. Archival chart review yielded a total of 19 patients, or 21%, for whom suicidal behavior was a presenting complaint upon admission or during hospitalization. Suicidality was distributed across gender, level of mental retardation, and psychiatric diagnosis. Additional findings of note with regard to family dysfunction and/or abuse history are summarized. Clearly, in this sample, children and adolescents with mental retardation were capable of formulating and engaging in potentially fatal acts. Results of this study suggest that suicidal behavior is an underrecognized, yet significant phenomenon in children and adolescents with mental retardation and psychiatric disorder.
尽管对智障者的精神疾病越来越关注，但自杀行为在这一人群中仍是一个报告不足的现象，尤其是在儿童和青少年中。本研究旨在记录一所医学院附属儿童精神病院专门收治双重诊断儿童和青少年的科室连续收治的90名患者中自杀行为的存在情况。对病历档案的回顾发现，共有19名患者（占21%），其自杀行为是入院时或住院期间的主要诉求。自杀倾向在性别、智障程度和精神诊断方面均有分布。总结了关于家庭功能障碍和/或虐待史的其他值得注意的发现。显然，在这个样本中，智障儿童和青少年有能力策划并实施潜在的致命行为。本研究结果表明，自杀行为在患有智障和精神疾病的儿童和青少年中是一个未得到充分认识但却很重要的现象。
