DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN SUICIDAL AND NONSUICIDAL ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Objective: This study presents two distinct profiles of female suicide attempters based on social-cognitive development and investigates the relationship of both developmental and suicide risk variables in these profiles. Method: The sample included 139 girls, aged 13-16, admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Patients were divided into four groups based on their suicidal status (attempter/nonsuicidal) and ego development (preconformist/conformist level). Results: Results support two developmental types of female suicide attempters that differed significantly on symptomatology, diagnoses, and defensive style. Preconformist attempters, the ''angry-defiant'' suicidal type, present with both depression and aggression as well as externalizing defense mechanisms. Conformist attempters, the ''self-blaming'' suicidal type, present with depression, and use more internalizing defenses to cope with conflict. Comparing suicide attempters and nonsuicidal girls, depression was found to be a risk factor for suicide at all developmental levels. Defense mechanisms were only associated with suicide at the preconformist developmental level. Conclusions: Social-cognitive development has an important impact on the expression of suicidal behavior in adolescent girls.