Assessing varying degrees of lethality in depressed adolescent suicide attempters.
OBJECTIVE
Understanding the lethality of suicide attempts and its relation to other psychological variables may improve clinical judgement with regard to suicide risk.


METHODS
The lethality of suicidal behaviour was examined in 60 hospitalized adolescent in-patients who had recently attempted suicide. Subjects were divided into non-lethal, low-lethal and high-lethal groups based on the qualities of their suicidal acts.


RESULTS
The groups did not differ in terms of hopelessness, depression, substance abuse or self-esteem. Moreover, they did not differ significantly in diagnoses of major depression, adjustment disorder, substance abuse and bipolar disorder. The group of high-lethal attempters was the only group with several individuals diagnosed with a major depressive episode and comorbid attention deficit disorder. The high-lethal group also reported the strongest desire to end their lives.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on lethality of suicide attempts, adolescent suicide attempters can be differentiated in terms of the wish to die as well as some instances of diagnostic comorbidity. However, they may not be differentiated in terms of severity of depression or hopelessness, demographic variables and other aspects of suicidal behaviour.
Nasser
E H
EH
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7123, USA.
Overholser
J C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires