Suicidal behavior by preschool children

Sixteen suicidal preschoolers age 21/2 to 5 years who were referred to a university child psychiatry outpatient clinic were compared with 16 behaviorally disordered preschoolers matched by age, sex, race, and parental marital and socioeconomic status. The suicidal group showed significantly more nonsuicidal self-directed aggression, loss of interest, morbid ideas, depression (according to the Weinberg criteria, but not DSM-III), impulsivity and hyperactivity, and running away behavior. They also showed significantly less pain and crying after injury; more of the children were unwanted and abused or neglected by parents. Four subgroups of suicidal motivation are identified and discussed.