Hopelessness, Depression, & Suicidal Intent Among Adolescent Suicide Attempters

The relationship between hopelessness, suicidal intent & depression in 44 minority adolescent female attempters, compared to matched, psychiatrically disturbed nonattempters was examined. Suicide attempters were not more hopeless than controls, nor was the correlation between depression & hopelessness different for the 2 groups. The authors conclude that clinicians should not use hopelessness as an indicator of suicidal intent in minority adolescent females. (4 refs.) (RM)