OBJECTIVE:

The primary purpose of this research is to investigate the criteria used by child and adolescent clinicians in determining the appropriateness of hospitalization for suicidal adolescents.

METHOD:

A questionnaire containing 64 vignettes describing adolescent suicide attempters was completed by a sample of 36 child and adolescent clinicians. Six variables known to relate to lethality of attempt were systematically varied within the vignettes: gender, depression, conduct disorder/substance abuse, previous attempts, suicidal relative, and family supports. Respondents were asked to judge the appropriateness of hospitalization for each vignette.

RESULTS:

Hospitalization preference was found to be inversely related to professional experience and was significantly predicted by all risk factors except gender. Configural cue utilization added substantially to the efficacy of a linear model in predicting preference to hospitalize.

CONCLUSIONS:

Experienced clinicians use known risk factors for adolescent suicide in making recommendations to hospitalize, but results also suggest ongoing needs for education and training in adolescent suicidality.