Suicidal Children Grow up: Relations Between Family Psychopathology and Adolescents’ Lifetime Suicidal Behavior

Standard family history & family study methods were used with 650 first- & 1174 second-degree biological relatives of 133 adolescents (69 at-risk children & 64 community controls) studied 6-8 years previously. Family discord, suicide attempts by the mother, & substance abuse by mothers & fathers were significantly more prevalent among adolescents with a lifetime history of a suicide attempt. Mothers’ & fathers’ substance abuse was associated with adolescents’ lifetime history of suicidal ideation. Results highlight the importance of evaluating & treating family psychopathology to reduce risk for youth suicidal states. (21 refs.)