Friends of Adolescent Suicide Attempters: a Detailed Pilot Study

The authors piloted a methodology for examining the longitudinal effect of exposure to peer attempted suicide. Immediate & remote friends of 5 known suicide attempters, 3 previously non-disclosing attempters & 4 non-suicidal psychiatric controls were examined at 0, 3 & 6 months on measures of relationship to the focal adolescent, emotional & behavioural symptoms, & suicidality. A relative increase in depression & suicidal ideation was found in the suicide groups compared to te controls.