SUICIDAL ADOLESCENT PERCEPTIONS AFTER AN ART FUTURE IMAGE INTERVENTION

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore reactions of hosp italized, suicidal adolescents to an art future image intervention (AF I). During the intervention adolescents were asked to rethink future e xpectations while creating a caricature of themselves in the future. S eventeen follow-up interviews were coded and analyzed to determine the meaning of the intervention to the adolescents. A structural definiti on of the AFI, extracted from the themes of the interviews, described the process that adolescents' experience during the intervention, whic h was ''an irritating but humorous identity search which rekindled dre ams as control over one's future was anticipated.'' The intervention h as been adapted for use in a number of clinical situations and populat ions. The AFI continues as a part of the treatment regime on an inpati ent adolescent psychiatric unit to help teenagers regain hope for the future. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.