Adolescent psychiatric inpatients' risk of suicide attempt at 6-month follow-up.
Adolescent inpatients (of whom 48 were admitted for a suicide attempt, 33 were admitted for suicidal ideation, and 53 had no history of clinically significant suicidal ideation or attempt), were interviewed while in the hospital and then followed up 6 months later. Of the 134 patients followed up, 13 (9.7%) had made a suicide attempt. The vast majority of those who attempted suicide had been suicidal while in the hospital (12/13 or 92.3%). Other risk factors for suicidal behavior include major depression at intake, affective disorder with nonaffective comorbidity, a depressive disorder that continued through follow-up, death of a relative, and family financial problems. Suicidal inpatients, particularly those with chronic and recurrent affective illness, are at substantial risk for making a suicide attempt within 6 months of discharge. At follow-up, an even higher proportion showed attempts or suicidal ideation with a plan (N = 36 or 26.8%), with risk factors similar to those noted above. More intense outpatient or partial hospital interventions as a transition from the inpatient environment may be necessary to reduce the rate of recidivism among suicidal adolescents.
Brent
D A
DA
Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213.
Kolko
D J
DJ
Wartella
M E
ME
Boylan
M B
MB
Moritz
G
G
Baugher
M
M
Zelenak
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013534:Survival