[Attempted suicide of youth with Asperger's disorder].

Research of Asperger's disorder is increasing through strong interest in this disorder. However, there are few reports on suicide attempts among youths with this disorder. We examined the clinical characteristics of serious suicide attempts of adolescents, and indicated the frequency of pervasive developmental disorders among them. In the present study, we reported a suicide attempt using briquettes by a youth with Asperger's disorder aged 23, who had a history of two suicide attempts by hanging. In this case, we examined the predisposing factors to suicide and possible intervention to prevent a re-attempt. As a result, in this case, we suggested that low self-esteem due to repeated serious social failures and feelings of isolation, although there was a social support system, were psycho-social predisposing factors. Moreover, the "conflict" between the patient and his parents, who should have provided social support for him, had made him feel alone. This "conflict" was composed of 1) the primary symptoms of Asperger's disorder (deficit of emotional reciprocity and unreasonable insistence on restricted thoughts.) and 2) his parents' insufficient comprehension of Asperger's disorder. This "conflict" was distinct from the conflict of interpersonal friction based on emotional interaction. In order to prevent a suicide re-attempt, we mainly intervened in the problem of low self-esteem due to repeated serious social failures and having feelings of isolation. We concluded that to prevent a suicide re-attempt in patients with Asperger's disorder, it is important to diagnose and treat the disorder and comorbidity, and it is more important to recognize and aggressively intervene in psycho-social predisposing factors.

Frequency and clinical features of pervasive developmental disorder in adolescent suicide attempts.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this clinical study was to examine the frequency and clinical features of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) relative to suicide attempts by adolescents. METHOD: Ninety-four adolescent patients under age 20 participated in this study; it was a consecutive study of individuals who had attempted suicide and had been hospitalized for inpatient treatment. RESULTS: Twelve of the 94 subjects (12.8%) were diagnosed with PDD. The ratio of males in the PDD group was higher than that in the non-PDD group (P=.017). There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding the rate of patients having mood or anxiety disorder (P=.037). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that PDD should always be a consideration when dealing with adolescent suicide attempts.

P-F study can predict the psychiatric symptoms of patients confined to the germ-free unit.

Psychological symptoms are often seen in pediatric patients who are confined to a germ-free unit while undergoing bone marrow transplants. The Picture-Frustration Study( P-F study) was performed at the outpatient clinic before admission to the germ-free unit. After admission to the germ-free unit, the patients were interviewed once a week in the germ-free unit, and their mental symptoms were recorded in their clinical records. Condition of anxiety, unresponsiveness, resistance to treatment, and aggression have been noted in pediatric patients below the age of 18 in the Tokai University Hospital. Insomnia, appetite loss, anxiety, unresponsiveness showed a significant correlation with the patient's age. Forty-seven children were given the P-F study before entering the germ free unit. Anxiety, depression, and unresponsiveness correlated significantly with several items in the P-F study. The results of P-F study are useful in predicting the appearance of psychological or physical symptoms of patients confined to the germ-free unit.