No safe place: parental alcoholism and adolescent suicide

Article Abstract:

About two thirds of children with alcoholic mothers develop some kind of emotional disorder. Also, national statistics indicate that 5,000 teenagers kill themselves every year. The connection between these statistics was examined, along with the familial traits and patterns that might be associated with a predisposition to adolescent suicide. Alcoholism in a family generally creates a situation in which at least one parent is unpredictable, anxiety-ridden, belligerent, or preoccupied. This has a profound influence on the structure of the child's psyche, especially when such behavior is evident during the child's infancy. Various normal stages of development, representing the child's sense of self ('I- ness') and attachment ('we-ness'), are incompletely accomplished. The adolescent, who begins to experience both rage and shame, may feel he has no place to go to avoid confusing and conflicting emotions, and thus suicidal ideas develop. A case study of a 13-year-old girl with alcoholic parents is presented to illustrate how she developed an emotional numbness that brought her close to suicide. The goal of therapy in such cases is to correct a distorted sense of self-worth, such that self-hatred can abate and a proper sense of attachment can develop. Alcoholism can leave an adolescent feeling alone, helpless and hopeless, and suicide may represent a desperate search for a safe place. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Alcoholism, Parents, Children of alcoholics, Alcoholic myopathy

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Is EMDR being held to an unfair standard? Rejoinder to Van Ommeren (1996)

Article Abstract:

M. Van Ommeren is suggesting a practical but unattainable approach to the selection of panels for the assessment of fidelity to the eye movement desensitization and reprocesssing (EMDR) treatment protocol. In suggesting a solution to an unresolvable problem, Van Ommeren is subjecting EMDR to meet unfairly high standards of proof. In addition, Van Ommeren failed to take into account the bulk of evidence that supports the efficacy of EMDR.

Methods, Psychotherapy, Psychic trauma, Trauma (Psychology)

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A trauma-focused individual therapy approach for adolescents with conduct disorder

Article Abstract:

Trauma is the most probable single cause for conduct disorder in teenagers, though there are often other contributing factors. The low success rate of treatment in this area could be improved if trauma were fully addressed, emphasizing motivational interviewing and self-control training.

Behavior disorders in children, Childhood mental disorders

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