Out of Options: A Cognitive Model of Adolescent Suicide and Risk-Taking

This book tackles an area of adolescent behavior that presents a significant challenge for parents, teachers and professionals the world over. Whilst much has been written on the topic of adolescent suicide we see continued high rates throughout industrialized nations. The overlap between suicidal behaviors and other forms of serious risk-taking is a relatively new avenue of research and gives insight into the motivations of some adolescents. The cognitive model developed and evaluated in this book provides further insight into the progression from early problems faced by young people to the serious outcomes of suicide and risk-taking. The model allows us to suggest points of intervention for young people and to demonstrate that whilst there are overlapping features, attempts to intervene would target different problem areas for suicidal adolescents than for risk-taking adolescents.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Introduction; 1. Adolescent suicide: an overview of the epidemiology; 2. Risk and predisposing factors in adolescent suicide; 3. Emotional problems and adolescent suicide; 4. Adolescent suicide: cognitive variables; 5. Adolescent risk-taking: an overview; 6. Risk and predisposing factors in adolescent risk-taking; 7. Adolescent risk-taking: cognitive variables; 8. An integrated model of suicide and risk-taking; an evaluation of the S/RT model: 9. Depressed and problem behavior adolescents; 10. Suicide attempts and risk-takers; 11. The impact of cognitive variables as mediators; 12. Clinical implications: the development of problem solving; 13. Clinical implications: prevention.

About the Author :
Dr Sofronoff is currently a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. She completed a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1998 in the area of adolescent suicide and risk-taking. Prior to undertaking studies in psychology, Kate worked as a high-school teacher for ten years so she has considerable experience working with adolesents. Dr Sofronoff is continuing to pursue research interests in the area of adolescent behavior as well as in other areas of clinical psychology. Dr Dalgliesh is a Senior Lecturer in Judgement and Decision Making in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. From 1981 to 1988 he was a Lecturer in the Department of Social Work where his interest in child protection decision making developed. He has given many keynote talks, conference presentations and workshops on risk assessment and decision making. He is currently preparing a book, Risk and Decisions in Child Protection to be published by Wiley. The is on the editorial board of Child Abuse Review. Robert Kosky MD is Emeritus Professor of Child Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide. He has written extensively in the areas of youth suicide, delinquency and early intervention. He was Chair of the National Collaborating Centres for the child and adolescent component of the Australian Government's Survey of the Mental Health and Well Being of Austratians.

Review :
"Represents a thoroughly and thoughtfully examined conceptualization and proposed solution to the problem of adolescent suicide and risk-taking. The model is tremendously useful, practical, and solution focused...highly relevant and valuable to the profession of psychology. This book is recommended for researchers of developmental and cognitive psychology and for clinicians pursuing work in the area of child, adolescent, and family practice." Contemporary Psychology