Risk Factors for Adolescent Suicide: A Comparison of Adolescent Suicide Victims with Suicidal Inpatients

Traits of adolescent victims were compared to those of psychiatric inpatients who had considered or attempted suicide. Both showed high rates of effective disorder & family histories of affective & antisocial disorders & suicide suggesting a continuum from ideation to completion. 4 factors were more common among victims: bipolar disorder, affective disorder, no previous mental health treatment & access to firearms. These findings suggest a profile of psychiatric patients @ high risk for suicide.