Suicide attempts and self-image among Turkish adolescents

The objective of this paper is to report on the role of self-image as an in ternal factor in suicide attempts of adolescents. Three groups of adolescen ts, suicide attempters (n = 33), nonsuicidal psychiatric outpatients (n = 5 0), and normal controls (n = 50), were administered Offer Self-Image Questi onnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Symptom Check List-90-R, and a "socio-d emographic questionnaire." The factors discriminating suicidal adolescents from the other 2 groups were increased number of siblings, being the older children, and negativity in the familial aspect of the self-image. The self -image factor was specific for suicidal girls but not for boys. Disturbance in the development of the self-image, especially in its relationship with other family members is an important risk factor in attempted suicides by f emale adolescents. This brings up the importance of including the family in the treatment of suicidal adolescents. None of the factors evaluated in th is study are significant in attempted suicides by males. This point needs f urther research.