Familial and Intrapsychic Splits in Suicidal Adolescents
- 1 July 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychiatric Association Publishing in American Journal of Psychotherapy
- Vol. 43 (3) , 356-367
- https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1989.43.3.356
Abstract
This paper describes a particular family dynamics involved in suicidal behaviors of adolescents. Certain family situiations create a split between some family members and the suicidal adolescent to the point of total estrangement. The adolescent copes with this split by forming intrapsychic splits, including a suicidal self and nonsuicidal self, through dissociation. This process peaks in the suicidal behavior itself. The therapeutic principles implied by this model are presented.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Suicidal, aggressive, and normal children's perception of personal and impersonal deathJournal of Clinical Psychology, 1978
- The wish to die and the wish to live in attempted suicidesJournal of Clinical Psychology, 1977