Microanalysis of Adolescent Suicide Attempters and Ideators During the Acute Suicidal Episode

35 ideators & 32 attempters (aged 12-17 years) consecutively referred to a suicide disorders clinic were evaluated with a semistructured interview about current & past emotional, cognitive, & behavioural states. Before the precipitant stressor, attempters reported significantly more hopelessness than ideators. During the suicidal episode, attempters, relative to ideators, spent more time ideating, were more likely to isolate themselves, & were less likely to tell anyone what they were thinking. In contrast, ideators reported significantly more residual anger after the episode than did attempters. No differences were found between the groups on Beck Depression Inventory scores. (38 refs.)