Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149:1585-1586
Copyright © 1992 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychotic symptoms and suicidal behavior in hospitalized children
R Livingston and HS Bracha
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72202-3591.
Association of psychotic symptoms with suicidal behavior was studied in 90
hospitalized prepubertal children. Children with psychotic symptoms were
more likely to have threatened or attempted suicide. The association of
visual hallucinations with suicidal behavior was stronger than that of
auditory hallucinations or psychotic ideation. The authors speculate that
psychosis in general and visual hallucinations especially may be indicators
of suicide risk among children.
