Familial transmission of suicidal behavior: factors mediating the relationship between childhood abuse and offspring suicide attempts.
BACKGROUND
Self-reported childhood sexual abuse is associated with major depression and with suicidal behavior. The current study investigates the relationship between reported childhood abuse and the familial transmission of suicidal behavior and other related risk factors.


METHODS
507 offspring of 271 parent probands with DSM-IV major depressive disorder were compared according to the reported childhood abuse history on demographic, diagnostic, and clinical variables related to risk for suicidal behavior. Both self-report and clinical interview measures assessed history of childhood physical and sexual abuse. The study was conducted from May 1997 to February 2004.


RESULTS
Reported childhood sexual abuse, but not physical abuse, in the proband correlated with suicide attempts, posttraumatic stress disorder, earlier onset of major depressive disorder, higher levels of impulsivity, and greater likelihood of childhood sexual abuse in the offspring and was rarely perpetrated by the affected parent. A reported history of childhood physical abuse was related to more lifetime aggression in the offspring.


CONCLUSIONS
Reported childhood sexual abuse is a risk factor for suicidal behavior in parent and offspring. Transmission of suicide risk across generations is related to the familial transmission of sexual abuse and impulsivity. Sexual abuse is not directly transmitted by the victim to the next generation and may be related to family dynamics related to sexual abuse.
Brodsky
Beth S
BS
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York 10032, USA. bsb21@columbia.edu
Mann
J John
JJ
Stanley
Barbara
B
Tin
Adrienne
A
Oquendo
Maria
M
Birmaher
Boris
B
Greenhill
Laurence
L
Kolko
David
D
Zelazny
Jamie
J
Burke
Ainsley Keller
AK
Melhem
Nadine M
NM
Brent
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*