Editorial: Progress and Challenges in Characterizing Psychiatric Symptoms and Behaviors in Suicidal Preadolescent Children

Historically, little clinical and research attention has been focused on suicide in preadolescent children because of the commonly held view that that at this age, children do not possess the cognitive capacity fully to comprehend death (e.g., its finality) and therefore are incapable of experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.1 This view may result in expressions of suicidal thoughts by preadolescent children being interpreted and treated as momentary expressions of distress, but not of actual desire or intent to engage in suicidal behavior.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research