Familial aggregation of psychiatric disorders in a community sample of adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether specific psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts ascertained in a community sample of adolescents show evidence of familial aggregation.


METHODS
Fifty-eight adolescent probands recruited from the community and their relatives were assessed as to the presence of specific DSM-III Axis I disorders and suicide attempt, using a combination of family study and family history methodology.


RESULTS
In first-degree relatives, there was evidence for specific familial aggregation of suicide attempt (odds ratio [OR] = 12.1 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3 to 111.0), substance abuse (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1 to 6.7), and any Axis I disorder (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3 to 4.6), even after demographic confounders and familial comorbidity were controlled. Similarly, among second-degree relatives, in analyses controlling for potentials confounders, the disorders-specific aggregation of suicide attempt (OR = 12.3, 95% CI = 1.2 to 130.0), substance abuse (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.6 to 4.8), and any Axis I disorder (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0 to 2.2) persisted.


CONCLUSIONS
The familial aggregation of suicide attempts and psychiatric disorders, particularly of substance abuse and any Axis I disorder, occurs in community samples and is not primarily attributable to referral status.
Bridge
J A
JA
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinics PA 15123, USA.
Brent
D a
Da
Johnson
B A
BA
Connolly
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010375:Pedigree; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*