Suicide and Serious Suicide Attempts in Youth: a Multiple-Group Comparison Study

This study compared risk factors for suicide & medically serious nonfatal suicide attempts among youth under 25 years of age. Individuals who had completed suicide, those who made serious suicide attempts, & nonsuicidal community subjects were compared. It was found that the same risk factors (mood disorder, history of psychiatric care, educational disadvantage, stresful circumstances) play a similar role in suicide & serious suicide attempts. Suicide & suicide attempts are discriminated by mood disorder & gender differences in methods. (43 refs)