chapter 4 - depressive, bipolar, and suicide

Question 1

what are the emotional features of depression in childhood and adolescence?

Answer 1

hopelessness, cognitive errors, negative attributions, low perceived competence or self-efficacy, and low self-esteem

Question 2

what are the behavioural features of depression in childhood and adolescence?

Answer 2

• episodes of sadness, crying, and apathy
• insomnia, fatigue, and poor appetite
• may refuse to attend school
• express fears of their parents’ dying
• may have suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide

Question 3

what are the risk factors of major depressive disorder?

Answer 3

age, socioeconomic status, marital status, gender, ethnicity

Question 4

what are the risk factors for suicide in children and youth?

Answer 4

• family problems (present among ~75% of attempters)
• stressful life events (breakup, unwanted pregnancy, problems at school)
• substance abuse (in the family or by the attempter)
• social contagion (adolescent suicides sometimes occur in clusters)

Question 5

what is thought to be an important predictor of suicidal behaviour?

Answer 5

hopelessness

Question 6

what are 7 steps that can be taken to try to prevent suicide?

Answer 6

1. draw the person out
2. be sympathetic
3. suggest that means other than suicide can be discovered to work out their problems
4. ask how the person expects to commit suicide
5. propose that the person accompany you to see a professional right now
6. don’t degrade by saying something like “you’re talking crazy”
7. don’t press the suicidal person to contact specific people such as parents or a spouse