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Factors associated with suicidal ideas, attempts, or threats were studied in adolescent psychiatric outpatients (N=5,426). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed by sex on data from 1968-1991. Substance abuse, depression, and disturbed relationships with adults were predictors for both sexes. In girls, antisocial behavior and depression had significant effects. (Author/EMK)

Researchers identified gender differences in their study of factors correlated with suicide thoughts, threats and attempts in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. The study group consisted of 5426 children aged between eight and 17 years. Depression, substance abuse, and difficult relationships with adults predicted suicidal behaviour in both sexes, but the interaction of depression, substance abuse and conduct disorder was a particularly strong predictor in girls, and antisocial behaviour was a predictive factor only in girls.

The proportion of black adolescents referred to psychiatric service for deliberate self-harm (DSH) is representative of the total local community. Both blacks and whites referred after DSH show similar sociodemographic characteristics and psychiatric symptoms. Self-poisoning is the predominant method used for DSH. Race fails to affect the chances of being admitted, the type of assessment received, and refusal of follow-up. Social stressors such as migration and adverse discrimination are higher in blacks than in whites.