Firearms and adolescent suicide. A community case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between firearms in the home and adolescent suicide.


METHODS
Matched, case-control.


METHODS
Population-based community sample.


METHODS
Sixty-seven adolescent suicide victims and a demographically matched group of 67 living community controls.


METHODS
The series of adolescent suicide victims was consecutive, with an overall participation rate of 74% (67/91).


RESULTS
The presence, type (hand-gun vs long-gun), number, and method of storage (locked vs unlocked, loaded vs unloaded) of firearms in the home were compared between the suicide victims and controls. Even after adjusting for differences in rates of psychiatric disorders between suicide victims and controls, the association between suicide and both any gun (odds ratio [OR] = 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1 to 17.5) and handguns (OR = 9.4, 95% CI = 1.7 to 53.9) in the home were both highly significant. Long-guns in the home were associated with suicide only in rural areas, whereas handguns were more closely associated with suicide in urban areas. Handguns (OR = 12.9, 95% CI = 1.5 to 110.9) and loaded guns (OR = 32.3, 95% CI = 2.5 to 413.4) in the home were particularly significant risk factors for suicide in those with no apparent psychiatric disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
When pediatricians are faced with a suicidal adolescent, they should insist on the removal of firearms from the home. Pediatricians should also inform parents that the presence of firearms may be associated with adolescent suicide even in the absence of clear psychiatric illness.
Brent
D A
DA
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213.
Perper
J A
JA
Moritz
G
G
Baugher
M
M
Schweers
J
J
Roth
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*