Hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among psychiatrically disturbed inpatient children.

Abstract

The present investigation evaluated hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among children (8 to 13 years old) hospitalized on a psychiatric intensive care service. A hopelessness scale, modeled after the adult version, was developed and administered to 66 children along with measures of depression (Children's Depression Inventory, Bellevue Index of Depression, Depression Symptom Checklist) and self-esteem (Self-Esteem Inventory). As predicted, children who scored high on the hopelessness scale showed significantly more severe depression and lower self-esteem than children who scored low on the scale. Children who evinced suicidal attempt or ideation, independently assessed at intake diagnosis, showed greater hopelessness than children who did not evince intent. Suicidal intent was more consistently correlated with hopelessness than with depression, a finding parallel to results obtained with adults. Overall, the present findings suggest that negative expectations toward oneself and the future can be assessed in children and are related both to depression and suicidal intent.