Psychiatric Diagnoses of Previous Suicide Attempters, First-Time Attempters, and Repeat Attempters on an Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Unit

49 previously suicidal youth, 28 first-time attempters & 33 repeat attempters were compared with 159 nonsuicidal youths for psychiatric diagnoses & a history of recent & previous suicidal behaviour. Previous & repeat attempters reported more affective disorders, while first-time attempters reported more adjustment disorders than nonsuicidal youths. Like repeat attempters, previous attempters often are depressed, but like nonsuicidal youth, they also exhibit significant externalizing behaviours.