ABSTRACT
A study of a 16.8-yr.-old female is presented to highlight aspects of Asperger's Syndrome as distinguished from cognate developmental and mood disorders. Brief therapy and pharmacological implications are mentioned.
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder/diagnosis , Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Patient Admission , Adolescent , Autistic Disorder/psychology , Autistic Disorder/therapy , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Bipolar Disorder/therapy , Clozapine/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Psychotherapy , Residential TreatmentABSTRACT
Forty adolescent inpatients with histories of frequent interpersonal violent behavior were compared with 36 hospitalized adolescents without histories of overt violence using self-report questionnaires that measured violence risk, depression, impulsivity, and suicide risk. The two groups did not differ in terms of their demographic characteristics, but the violent patients had a higher prevalence of substance abuse and borderline personality disorder diagnoses. Violent adolescents were more impulsive and at higher suicide risk than nonviolent adolescents. In addition, violent adolescents had more positive histories of suicide attempts and had significantly higher family histories of attempted and completed suicide. In the total sample of adolescents, violence risk was significantly correlated with impulsivity and suicide risk, but not with depression.
Subject(s)
Adolescent, Institutionalized/psychology , Violence/psychology , Adolescent , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Impulsive Behavior/psychology , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk Factors , Suicide/psychologyABSTRACT
This paper is a brief overview of the various pharmacological interventions useful in the acute inpatient treatment of a variety of adolescent disorders of an affective, psychotic, attentional, aggressive and/or post-traumatic nature. Clinical indications, side effects, and management issues are discussed along with numerous vignettes which demonstrate adolescent response to such interventions.
