Cognitive Risk Factors and Suicide Attempts Among Formerly Hospitalized Adolescents: a Prospective Naturalistic Study

In a prospective naturalistic study, 180 adolescents were assessed at the time of psychiatric hospitalization & semiannually thereafter for suicidal behaviour & cognitive risk factors. Expectations about future suicidal behaviour were related to posthospitalization suicide attempts. Among youths with previous attempts, higher levels of hopelessness were associated with increased risk, & greater survival & coping beliefs were associated with decreased risk for posthospitalization attempts. Implications are discussed. (31 refs.)